w. a. STEVENSON. 97 



Vulpes vulgaris — red fox. 

 Two specimens, one old and one young. 



Family : Mustelidce. 



Putorius vulgaris (Mustela pusilla) — least weasel. 

 One specimen. 



Putorius erminea — common weasel, stoat, or ermine. 

 Under this name Dr. Cones includes the various species 

 described by different authors as Putorius noveboran- 

 censis, P. fusca, P. ricliardsoni, P. kanei, and P. ci- 

 cognani. Between these various species Dr. Coues, 

 whose authority I accept, says there is no dividing line. 

 He regards the question of size and of color as entirely 

 within the limits of individual variation under external 

 conditions, and not of themselves indicative of specific 

 differences. 



Of the six specimens in our collection, four are much 

 smaller than the other two, and by most authors have 

 been described as a distinct species known as P. cicog- 

 nanii. Dr. Coues, however, denies their specific differ- 

 ences. Of the four smaller ones, two are in their sum- 

 mer or brown pelage, and two are in their winter or 

 white pelage, which has a slight yellowish tinge on the 

 abdomen. 



The two larger specimens are the same as DeKay de- 

 scribed under the name of P. nomborancensis, — "New 

 York ermine, 11 or "white weasel' 1 — which, he says, he 

 " had never seen in its summer dress" of brown. 



The two specimens in our collection are interesting be- 

 cause, though taken in summer — one in August and one 

 in early September — they have not a single brown hair 

 on their bodies. The upper portions of the head and 

 neck are white, and the rest of their bodies is of the 

 characteristic "sulphury-yellow" color. 



Putorius vison — common mink. 



Three specimens. 



