164 



MTJSTELID^. 



Externally P. larvains closely resembles P. eversmmini (Lesson, 

 Man. Mam. p. 144) of Western and Nortliern Asia in form and 

 coloration, but in none of the three skulls of that species in the 

 British Museum is there a process connecting the pterygoid bone 

 with the bulla. The form of the upper true molar, too, appears to 

 me different. P. pntorinus (Blyth, J. A. S. B. xi, p. 281, note) 

 is evidently the same as P. eversmanni. 



80. Putorius sarmaticus. The mottled Polecat. 



Mustek sarmatica, Palhis, Peise, i, p. 453 (1771) ; Button, J. A. S. B. 

 xiv, p. 346 ; Blyih, Cat. p. 68 ; Sadly, A. M. N. H. ser. 5, viii, 

 p. 227. 



Tail bushy, about half the length of the head and body. Fur 

 shorter and" more even than in the common or Tibetan polecats. 

 Very little woolly underfur, the longer hairs coarse and glossy. 



Fig. 41. — Putorius sarmaticus. 



Skull similar in form to that of the common polecat, not pinched 

 in behind the postorbital processes. The hamular process of the 

 pterygoid on each side is nearly straight, and meets a process 

 running forward from the anterior portion of the bulla, leaving a 

 foramen below, which is nearly or quite filled up in old skulls, so 

 that the mesopterygoid fossa is continued back to between the 

 bullae. Crowns of upper true molars not dumbbell-shaped, but of 

 approximately the same width from front to back throughout. 



Colour. Upper parts variegated with brox^n and yellowish white, 

 underfur on the back greyish brown. TiOwer parts from tlie chin, 

 with the limbs, glossy black. Face darlv brown to black, except a 

 white band across th(! forehead. Aiiothcn-band passes across the iinpe, 

 and includes the upper portion of the ears ; the two bands nearly or 

 quite meet below the ears. Hind neck dai'k broM'n ; there is gene- 

 rally a broad fairly marked whitish band behind each shoulclcr. 

 The hairs on the tail are very pale brovxn at the base, then dark 



