OCTOEEK, 1902.] MAMMALS OP KEEWATIN. 67 



Putorius cicognani (Bonaparte). Bonaparte Weasel. 



Weasels, or ■ermines,' as they are visually styled in the north, were 

 reported as coranion throughout the region between Lake Winnipeg 

 and the Bay, and many ai'e caught in traps sot for more desirable 

 species. We failed to trap any while traveling through the district, 

 but saw manj' skins at the trading posts and oljtained a numbei- of 

 skulls from the natives at Oxford House. The skulls prove to be typ- 

 ical cicognani., and as two skins in the U. S. National Museum collec- 

 tion from Fort Albany. Hudson Bay, are referable to this form, the 

 Bonaparte weasel is probably the common weasel of the region. 



Two winter skins from York Factory seem referable to this species, 

 but in the absence of skulls I find it impossible to decide whether they 

 are nearest to cicoijnani or to richardsoni. 



Putorius cicognani richardsoni (Bonaparte). Richardson Weasel. 



This form probably replaces cicognani throughout the northern 

 parts of the region as far north as the limit of trees and perhaps 

 farther. An immature male taken on Churchill River a few miles 

 above Fort Churchill is dark brown above, as in cicognani, and white 

 beneath, very slightly tinged with 5^ellow. The black on the tail occu- 

 pies its terminal third, inclusive of the hairs. Another male, also 

 immature, shot on the edge of the Barren Grounds below Hubbart 

 Point August 17, resembles the Churchill River specimen, but is 

 strongly tinged with sulphur yellow beneath. 



Putorius arcticus Merriam. Tundra Weasel. 



Weasels collected by Ludwig Kumlien at Cumberland Gulf in 1878 

 prove to be referable to this species, the tj'pe of which came from 

 Point Barrow. This indicates that the range of the animal maj^ extend 

 across the northern part of the continent, and makes it probable that 

 the following notes referring to erminea properly relate to arcticus. 

 J. C. Ross mentions the occurrence of the animals on the shores of 

 Boothia Felix. He states that they assumed their winter dress in Sep- 

 tember and turned brown again toward the end of May. Their tracks 

 were seen at intervals throughout the winter, and the accompanying 

 tracks of lemmings showed that the weasels were in pursuit of what 

 was found to be their chief prey." Thej^ are also recorded from the 

 west side of Baffin Bay,* and were found on the east side of Melville 

 Peninsula on Parry's second voyage.'' 



Putorius rixosus Bangs. Bangs Weasel. 



A specimen of this diminutive weasel from Moose Factory is in the 

 U. S. National Museum collection, and has been several times recorded. 



"Appendix to Ross's Second Voyage, p. x, 1835. 

 6 Appendix to Ross's First Voyage, p. xliii, 1819. 

 cLyon's Private Journal, p. 54 (and elsewhere), 1824. 



