280 Notice of the Mammals of Tibet. [No. 124. 



sess three specimens, the largest, above described, from Lasno , The young 

 have the hoary colour much less developed, and the red hue duller. My 

 specimens want the hind molars, so that I cannot positively assert whe- 

 ther the species belong to the subgenus Mustela, or to that of Martes, 

 but I feel pretty sure to the former.* 



16. M. Erminea. Common in Tibet, where the skins enter largely into 

 the peltry trade with China. Possess one specimen in the winter robe 

 of the species, which is found also in the Himalaya, I hear. 



1 7. M. Auriventer, vel Kathia. Found on the Tibetan as well as Indian 

 slopes from the spine of the snowy region. Possess a skin from Tingree. 



18. M. Sub-Hemachalanus. Since this species was first described, 

 (Journal, July, 1837,) I have obtained several specimens from Tibet, as 

 well as from the Himalayan districts, cis et trans nivem. The largest 

 specimen is 15^ inches from snout to rump, head 2^, tail only 6. 

 Tail and hair *1\. Planta If. The smallest is 10^ inches long, and the 

 tail 4 more, or 5 with the hair. The former is of a bright bay or 

 brown red with labial edge ; whole chin and spot on middle of front neck, 

 hoary. Bridge of nose and last third of tail, brown black. The 

 latter is of a deeper and duller hue or smoky brown, with the lower 

 jaw and lips albescent ; and the nose and end of tail blackish as 

 before, f 



Remark. — All the above Musteline animals are much prized in Tibet 

 for their skins, which the Chinese located there cure, and in Nepal, 

 for their ability in killing vermin, though Auriventer be the species 

 most commonly so used. None are ever found in Nipal, south of the 

 Kachar, or northern region. The belly is never white in any of the 

 species, but deep aureous in Auriventer and invariably so ; concolorous 

 with the back in the rest. The pale hue under the head and neck 

 extends with age. The fur is rather longer in Canigula, and the tail 

 proportionally longer. 



* In typical Martes there is an additional false molar on each side of both jaws to 

 what is ever found on Mustela, though the dental formula of the latter exists in a 

 large Neilgheiry Marten, which Mr. Walter Elliot shewed to me at Madras, and of 

 which the Zoological Society possess a specimen marked 308 a, in Mr. Waterhouse's 

 printed Catalogue of the Society's Museum.— Cur. As. Soc. 



f The Darjeeling Mustela described in my Report for January (ante, p. 98,) 

 would seem to be refcrrible to this species, and I now think that the white mottling of 

 the shoulders was merely the commencement of a general charge to white, as in the 

 Ermine— Ibid. 





