Feb., 1912. Mammals of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 379 



and it will, therefore, undoubtedly be found to occur in northern 

 Illinois and Indiana. I can see no reason why the Lesser Weasel, 

 P. pusillus, given by Kennicott as occurring in Indiana and northern 

 Illinois should not be this form. He gives the length from nose to root 

 of tail as about six inches and tail vertebrae not exceeding two inches, 

 and says: "There can be no difficulty in distinguishing it from all others, 

 not only by its dimensions, but by the very short tail, which is destitute 

 of the black tip characteristic of the rest, although the extremity is 

 sometimes dusky" (/. c, p. 245). 



Very little is known regarding the habits of this little Weasel, but 

 they probably do not differ from others of this tribe. On account of its 

 diminutive size, however, it would probably not be very destructive to 

 poultry and no doubt preys largely upon small animals, such as Mice, 

 insects and small birds, as does its diminutive European cousin. 



Specimens examined from Wisconsin: 

 Wisconsin — (M. P. M.) Sumpter, Sauk Co., i; Merrimac, Sauk Co., i; 



Prescott, Pierce Co., 1 = 3. 



Area of intergradatlon 



Map illustrating the supposed distribution of the Least Weasels (Putorius rixosus and P. r. alle- 

 gheniensis) in eastern United States and Canada. The two forms probably intergrade in eastern 

 Minnesota. 



Putorius rixosus Bangs. (Proc. Biol. Sod Wash., X, 1896, p. 21.) Type locality — 

 Osier, Saskatchewan, Canada. Size very small, smallest of our Weasels. 



Putorius r. alle gheniensis Rhoads. Type locality — Near Beallsville, Washington 

 Co., Penn. Larger than rixosus; description as previously given. 



