4 18 The Polecat of Tibet. [May, 



Black-faced Polecat of Tibet. 



Tail one-third of the entire length. Soles clad. Fur long. Above 

 and laterally, sordid fulvous, deeply shaded on the back with black. 

 Below, from throat backwards with the whole limbs and tail, black. 

 Head pale with a dark mask over the face. Snout to vent 14 inches. 

 Head less 3. Tail only 6. Tail with hair, 7. Palma If. Planta 2f . 



Habitat, the plain of central Tibet. 



My specimen of this interesting animal was obtained in the district 

 of 17, on the south of the Sanpu, and was brought to me this spring 

 along with a second specimen of the Tibetan Badger (Taxidea Leucu- 

 rus.) The skin was in good condition, and had the limbs and scull 

 complete. It is seemingly a male, and certainly, a mature animal. The 

 length from snout to vent is 14 inches and the tail is 7 more, so that 

 Toufseusonly of Tibet, and Flavigula of the Himalaya, can compare with 

 it in size. The copious pelage more resembles that of the Yellow-neck 

 of these mountains than that of the Sable-like Tibetan species. The 

 fur is of two kinds, or hair and wool, both abundant, especially the 

 wool ; and the hair is as much longer than the wool as it is less thick. 

 The structure of the animal is typical. The face short and bluff, the 

 head long and depressed ovoid, the neck of medial length, and as thick 

 as the head, the body very long, the tail longish and cylindrico-tapered ; 

 the ears, as usual, remote, truncately rounded and fissured behind ; the 

 limbs short and strong, the fore digits being rather the larger, and the hind 

 limbs more plainly the longer, of the two. The soles of the feet, fore 

 and aft, are completely furred, save only the digital balls and a very 

 small carpal one ; and this would seem to be the case with most of the 

 mustelines, our Cathia and the Javanese nudipes appearing to be quite 

 exceptional in regard to the nakedness of the soles of their feet. The 

 digits of the Tibetan Polecat are andromorphously gradated upon the 

 whole ; but the two central fingers are more nearly equal than in the 

 human hand, and the inner digit or thumb is small and remote, as usual 

 with the congeners of this species. The nails, by their length and acute- 

 ness, indicate scansorial habits more proper to the Martens than to the 

 Weasels, strictly so called, though the number and character of the 

 molar teeth leave no doubt that our animal belongs to the latter divi- 

 sion. The ample pelage has the hairy piles 2\ to 2| inches long upon 



