KEY TO LAND MAMMALS OF NORTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA 1 35 



female, 225 (10); tail vertebrae, male, 77 (3i), female, 69 (2|); hind foot, 

 male, 37 (1^), female, 30 (Irs.) (c ie ogn an ii ,• name from that of Felice 

 Cicognani) 



The small brown weasel inhabits woods and fields in the boreal and 

 transition zones throughout eastern North America from the limit of tree 

 growth south to Long Island and in the mountains probably much 

 farther. The change to the white winter coat always takes place. The form 

 occurring within our limits is the typical subspecies P. cicognanii 

 cicognanii. In northwestern British America and in Alaska this is 

 replaced respectively by P. cicognanii richardsoni (Bona- 

 parte) and P. cicognanii alascensis (Merriam). 



Putorius occisor Bangs Slender -tailed weasel 



1899 Putorius oceisor Bangs, Proc. New England zoological club. 9 June 

 1899. 1:54. (Bueksport Me.) 



Tail closely haired, forming nearly one third of total length, its black tip short 

 (about 60 (2f ) in male, 30 (li) in female) and mostly comfined to the terminal tuft 

 of hair; winter coat pure white except the black tip of tail and a slight wash 

 of pale yellow on belly; summer coat not known. Total length, male, 460 (18), 

 female, 350 (13f ) ; tail vertebrae, male, 170 (6f ), female, 115 (4^) ; hind foot, 

 male, 50 (2), female, 36 (I/5). (occisor; Lat., a slayer) 



The slender-tailed weasel is at present very slightly known. It proba- 

 bly occurs in the forests of the Canadian zone from Maine to Manitoba. 

 Like the New York weasel, it is remarkable for the great difference in 

 size between the sexes. 



Putorius noveboracensis Emmons New York weasel 

 Tail somewhat bushy, forming about one third of total length, its black tip Io)kj 

 (about 80 (3i) in male, 50 (2) iu female) and extending considerably beyond the 

 terminal tuft of hairs (often occupying nearly one half of tail); dimmer coat 

 brown above, white or yellow below; winter coat white (northern) or drab 

 (southern). Total length, male, 405 (16), female, 325 (12|); tail vertebrae, 

 male, 140 (5i), female, 108 (4i) ; hind foot, male, 47 (If), female, 84 (U). 

 (noveboracensis; N. Lat., pertaining to New York) 



The New York weasel inhabits woods and fields in the transition and 

 upper austral zones throughout the eastern United States from Maine ami 

 New York to North Carolina. The change to the white winter coat 

 always takes place in the northern part of the anmial's range ; at the 

 south the change is to a drab coat. The latter is not well understood. 

 This species is divisible into two geographic races. 



