MTJSTELA SUB-HEMACHALANA. 83 



and Menageries of the Zoological Society." It has a very slight unplea- 

 sant odour. 



Maries touftms, Hodgson, is stated to have been killed in Tibet, 

 Ladak, &c., at 11,000 feet of elevation, where it chiefly lives in the 

 villages of the inhabitants. It is also found in Afghanistan, and its skin 

 sold in the bazars at Peshawur. Another species, which Blyth is inclined 

 to identify with Mustela zibellina, the sable marten, has also been procured 

 from Tibet. This has the soles clad with fur. The former of these has by 

 some observers been taken for the pine marten of Europe, Maries ahietum. 



Gen. Mustela, Linnteus. 



Char. — Four molar teeth above on each side, and five below ; lower 

 canine with no internal tubercle, upper tuberculated tooth with the crown 

 broader than long ; ears short, rounded ; feet short ; toes separate ; claws 

 sharp ; tail short or moderate. Of small sisse ; body elongated, vermiform. 



Weasels are a well known group of small animals, of lengthened habit 

 of body and very short legs, to which the name vermin is commonly 

 applied. They are, though so small, most sanguinary in their disposi- 

 tion, often killing far more than will satisfy their hunger. They are 

 ground animals, hunting on the ground, and living in holes in walls 

 and such like places. They are chiefly inhabitants of the northern parts 

 of the old world and Northern America ; and in India they are only 

 found in the Himalayas. 



97. Mustela sub-bemachalana. 



Hodgson, J. A. S. VI. 563 — Blyth, Cat. 202. — M. humeralis, Blyth. 

 Zimiong, Bhot. — Sang-hing, Lepch. 



The Himalayan Weasel. 



Bescr. — Uniform light bay or brown, slightly darker along the median 

 line ; nose, upper lip and forehead, and the end of the tail dark-reddish 

 brown ; edge of the upper lip and chin hoary-white ; feet dusky-brown ; 

 fur close, glossy and soft ; head and ears more closely clad than the body ; 

 tail laxly furred, tapering. 



Length head and body 12 inches ; tail 5J, with the hair 1 inch more. 



Blyth described a specimen that had some white spots and mottling 

 on the shoulders and sides of the neck. He also likens this species to the 

 ermine, which is about the same size, but darker in color, and the tip of 

 the tail black. 



