a 
Fes., 1912. MAmMats oF ILLINOIS AND WIScoNSIN—Cory. 367 
Type locality — Southern New York. 
Distribution — Eastern United States from southern Maine, northern 
New York and southern Ontario, Michigan, and greater part of 
Wisconsin, south to Kentucky, Tennessee and western North 
Carolina. In the West its range extends at least to the Mississippi 
River in western Illinois. 
Description — In summer: Upper parts and fore and hind feet dark 
brown; generally a brown spot back of the angle of the mouth; under 
parts white, more or less washed with yellowish (in some northern 
Illinois specimens the yellowish tinge is absent); terminal portion 
of the tail black for one third or more of its length. Jn winter: 
Entire pelage white (except end of tail), more or less washed with 
yellowish; the yellowish tinge is usually noticeable on under parts 
and distinctly so about the rump, hind legs and tail; end of tail 
always black; in the southern portion of its range it does not turn 
white in winter, but the pelage is paler; size very variable; females 
much smaller than the males. 
Measurements — Total length (males), usually from 14.50 to 16 in. 
(370 to 416 mm.); tail vertebrae, 4.75 to 5.50 in. (120 to 140 mm.); 
hind foot, 1.75 in. (44.5 mm.). Total length (females), 12 to 13.50 
in. (304 to 342 mm.); tail vertebra, 4.25 to 4.75 in. (108 to 120 mm.); 
hind foot, about 1.37 in. (35 mm.). 
Remarks — Adult males of this species may readily be distinguished by 
size, relative length of tail, etc. from P. cicognanii, but a female 
noveboracensis and a male cicognanii often resemble each other very 
closely. They may generally be distinguished by the relative 
difference in the length of tail (see page 360.) and the absence of 
yellowish white on the inner side of the hind foot. 
The range of the New York Weasel includes practically the whole 
of Ilinois* and the greater part of Wisconsin. It is common at least as 
far north as Marathon County and there is a specimen in the Milwaukee 
Public Museum from Oconto County, Wisconsin. Howell gives it as 
fairly common in southern Illinois and records specimens from Golconda, 
Pope Co., and Lick Creek, Union Co. (J. ¢., p. 32). 
Although Weasels are the smallest: of our carnivorous species, they 
are the most ferocious and sanguinary of them all. They seem to 
* This species in the southern part of its range is claimed to have the under 
parts decidedly pale yellow and does not turn white in winter; while in the northern 
portion of its range it turns white in winter and has the under parts white in summer. 
Mr. Bangs has separated them subspecifically, naming the yellow-bellied form 
notius. Both white and yellow-bellied specimens are found in northern Hlinois and 
the animal turns white in winter in this latitude. If the subspecies stands the test 
of time, it is probable that notius may be found to occur in southern Illinois, but a 
lack of specimens for comparison prevents me from deciding this question. 
