208 THEOUG-H THE MACKENZIE BASIN" 



animals captured in the same quarter. It is now described 

 under Mustela americana alhieticola, subsp. nov., Hudson 

 Bay Marten, in " North American Fauna," No. 22, 1902, by 

 that zealous naturalist, Mr. Edward A. Preble, of the H. S. 

 Biological Survey. 



Weasel — EEMiNE^Pwiorms ardicus Merriam, P. cicog- 



namiii (Bonaparte), and P. cicognannii 



richardsonii (Bonaparte). 



I believe the weasel extends to the north of Fort Ander- 

 son, where several specimens were obtained from the natives 

 in course of our five years' residence from 1861 to 1866. 

 The Eskimos of the Lower Mackenzie and Anderson rivers 

 use the skin of the weasel very largely in their conjuring 

 and other religious exercises. It may be here mentioned 

 that ermines are not particularly abundant within the Arctic 

 Circle, although there, as elsewhere throughout the wooded 

 eountry, they are more numerous some seasons than others. 

 Doctor Armstrong refers to the presence of one of these 

 species on Baring Land. Sir James Ross says they are 

 fairly abundant at Boothia Felix, where they feed mainly 

 on lemmings. Sir George Nares observed many ermines 

 where he wintered in 1875-76. General Greely also secured 

 eight examples on Grinnell Land, and gives latitude 82° 36' 

 north as about their highest range in that polar quarter. 



Quite a large number of specimens of these animals were 

 obtained' at Fort Anderson from the Eskimos, as well as from 

 the Indians, and a few were captured in the stores and in 

 the vicinity of the place. They range to the shores of the 

 American coast. Koss, Nares, Greely, and Doctor Armstrong 

 refer to these species in their respective Arctic exploring 

 volumes. The female gives birth to her young, from four 

 to eight, and sometimes as many as nine and ten, in May 

 and June, annually. They are said to be blind and very 

 helpless when born, and 'so continue for some time after- 



