168 MUSTELIDJE. 



tSkull (iig, 40, p. 1(52) decidedly elongate, tlie comparatively 

 uarrow area behind the poslorbital processes very long, but nowhere 

 distinctly contracted, the sides beiug subparallel. 



Colour. Chestnut (brownish red), some specimens darker than 

 others, some beiug bright chestnut, almost fawn-colour, the tail- 

 tip not darker. Underfur hair-bro\\n. The nose as far back as 

 the eyes, both lips, the chin, and a variable area on the throat 

 and upper breast white. 



Dimensions. Head and body 15| inches, tail without hair 7^, 

 with hair 9|. The above are Hodgson's measurements, but are 

 from a skin, and therefore only approximate. A skull from 

 Kashmir is 2-05 inches in basal length, 1-1 broad across the 

 zygomatic arches. 



Distribution. Hodgson's types were from Lhassa in Tibet. There 

 are specimens in the British Museum, collected by Major Kin- 

 loch, from Chamba and Pangi in the N.AV. Himalayas, at an 

 elevation of 8000 feet in each case. I have a skin obtained by Mr. 

 Theobald at Dharmsala, and the species is probably that " with a 

 white blaze on the face " observed by Mr. Lydekker in the Chenab 

 valley. I cannot help suspecting that this form may inhabit 

 Kashmir, and that it may have been mistaken for its near ally 

 P. suhhernacludanus. If this be the case, P. canigula is probably 

 the Western cis-Himalayan species, P. suhhemaclialanus the 

 Eastern, the former extending further east, however, in Tibet. 



Nothing particular is known of the habits of P. canigula. 



The type of Mustela hoclgsoni, Gray, is in the British Museum, 

 and is a rather small and dark-coloured individual of the present 

 species. The name has by Horsfield, Blyth, and Jerdon been 

 applied to other kinds. 



84. Putoriiis alpinus. The pale Weasel. 



Mustela alpina, Gebler, Mem. Soc. Imp. Nat. Moscou, vi, p. 213(1823) ; 



Horrf. Cat. p. 104. 

 Mustela temon, Hodgson, J. A. S. B. xxvi, p. 207 ; Blanford, York. 



Miss., Mam. p. 32'; Scully, P. Z. S. 1881, p. 203 j id. A. M. N. 11. 



(6) viii, p. 07. 



Temon, Tibetan. 



Tail moderately hairy, about half the length of the head and 

 body. Pur short, soft, very thick, with but little woolly underfur. 

 Soles hairy, naked; pads nuich concealed by the long hair between 

 them. Claws very slightly curved, bknit. 



Colour. Above and on tlie sides light brown (or, as Hodgson 

 calls it, brunnescent fawn) to hair-brown. Underfur rather darker 

 brown at the base, then whitish when the fur is in good condition, 

 the tips brown. Tail the same colour as the body or rather paler. 

 Lower parts, as a rule, yellow or white, with a distinct line of 

 separation from the brown of the sides ; but in other specimens 

 there is no distinct separation of colour, and the lower parts are 



