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Genus Putorius. Cavier. 



Etymology — Latin, putor, a stench. 

 < Mustela, or Martes, of some authors. 

 ^ Putorius, Cuvier, Regne Anim., i, 1817, and authors. 

 = Fcetorius, Keys & Bias., Wirbelth. Eur., 1840. 



> Gymiwpns, Gray, Gat. Mamm. Br. Mus., 1842. 



> Lutreola, '-Wagner," Gray, P. Z. S., 1865, 117. Type Mustela Intreola, 



Linn.) 



> Gale, '^ Wagner," Gray, P. Z. S., 1865, 118. 



> Neogale, Gray, P. Z. S., 1865, 114. (Type P. hradlieivsia.) 



> Vison, Gray, P. Z. S., 1865, 116. (Type P. vison.) 



Generic Characters. — Dentition : teeth 34 ; i. f:|- ; c. V-V ; pm- t-I j ^^- '2-^ ' 

 sectorial tooth of lower jaw without an internal cusp ; size moderate (in 

 it are the emaller musteline species) ; body slender, cylindrical ; legs 

 short ; tail long, terete ; ears long, orbicular ; pelage usually close and 

 short ; usually white in winter in northern species. 



This genus contains the true Weasels or Stoats (sub-genus Gale), the 

 Ferrets or Polecats of the Old World (sub-genus Putorius proper), the 

 American Ferret (lufegenus Cynomyonax), and the Minks (sub-genus Ia(.- 

 treola). 



The most notable difference between this genus and Mustela, is in the 

 dentition, Putorius having one less molar on each side above and below. 



The size is usually not as great, and the body typically slenderer. 



PUTORIDS (SUB-GENUS, Gale) EEMINEA. A. & B. 

 Stoat or Ekminb ; Common Weasel. 

 Etymology of specific name — " This is alittle beast, lesse than a Squirrell, 

 that hath his being in the woods of tfce land of Armenia, whereof hee 

 taketh his name." — Gwillim, "Display of Heraldrie." 



Synonymy — General References. 



1748. Mustela Candida, s. ermineum, Linn., Syst. Nat., eds. 6th and 7th. 



1761. Mustela armellina, Klein., Quadrupeds, 63. 



1754. Mustela erminea, Linn., Syst. Nat., 12th ed., i, 1766, 68, No. 10.— 

 Erxl., Syst. An., 1777, 474, No. 13.— Schreb., Siiug., iii, 1778, 496, 

 pi. 137.— Pr. Cuvier, Diet. Sci. Nat., xxix, 1823, 250.— Fisch., 

 Syn., 1829, 222.— Bell, Br. Quad., 1837, 148.— Gray, List. Mamm. 

 Br. Mus., 1843, 65. 



1788. Mustela erminea, a. sestiva, b. hyherna, Gm., S. N., i, 1788, 98, Nos. 

 10 a., 10 b. 



1800. Viverra erminea, Shaw, Gen. Zool., i, 1800, 426, pi. 99. 



1827. Putorius erminea, Griff., An. King., v. 1827, 122, No. 345. 



