1842.J Notice of the Mammals of Tibet. 281 



19. Mustela Calotis, The only specimen I have, is from the interior 

 of Tibet. It has been recently described elsewhere.* 1 ' 



Subgenus Martes. 



20 Martes Flavigula, One specimen lately came to me from the Tibetan 

 slopes of the Hemachal, but the species is probably confined to the 

 juxta Himalayan districts ; for its natural habitat is the central region 

 of Nepal, where it represents the true Mustelse of the northern. 



21. Martes (?) Toufceus, new, Mihi. Toufee of the peltry trade of the 

 Chinese and Tibetans, who prize the skin very highly, next indeed to the 

 sable. Have several fine skins from Lassa and Siling, but as they 

 want the teeth and talons and tail, I can but conjecture from informa- 

 tion and the specimens as they are, that the animal is a Marten. Thus 

 judging, I should say, the Toufee has much of the size and proportions 

 of the last or Flavigula ; but its pelage is much richer and softer. In 

 softness it equals the Vulpes Montanus, and is much fuller of fur or 

 thicker ; the longer piles being very glossy. Probable length from snout 

 to vent 20 to 22 inches, mean height 7. Length of head about 4f ; of 

 auricle or free helix 1J. Average length of the outer or hairy piles 

 If inch, of the inner and woolly 1^ inch. General colour smoky 

 brown, darker along the spine and on the limbs, but without marks, 

 and paled to sordid yellowish hoary on the neck and head : head palest 

 except the mystaceal region and chin, which are embrowned : moustache 

 moderate and dark brown. There are no rings on the outer or inner 

 piles, which have both the general smoky brown hue of the exterior, 

 only paler at the roots. 



* The M. Sebirica of Pallas, described in Shaw's ' Zoology,' 1, 431, is another spe- 

 cies which may perhaps turn up in Tibet. — I may also here notice a species which 

 I believe to be now first distinguished from M. putorius viz. the Russian Pole-cat of 

 the English furriers, which is quite a distinct species from that of Germany and Bri- 

 tain. I had an opportunity of comparing many very large bundles of skins of both 

 animals at one of the Hudson's Bay Company's half-yearly exhibitions, those of 

 genuine putorius, having been imported from Germany, and being quite undistin- 

 guishable from the animal of Britain. The Russian species is considerably smaller, 

 not exceeding the Stoat or Ermine in size, with tail (vertebra) measuring 4i inches or 

 with its hair 6h inches. Pelage nearly similar to that of the British Pitch or ' Pole-cat,' 

 but apparently becoming nearly white in winter : and all the multitude of skins I saw 

 had the pale ground-tent much whiter, and more predominating, than in the very 

 numerous examples of M. putorius examined on the same occasion. This Russian 

 species may be styled M. putorimus." — Cur. As. Soc. 



