MAMMALIA. ADS 
[14.] 1. Musrezva (Purorrus) vurearis. (Lin.) The Common 
“piri i, in Weasel. | 
Genus. Mustela. Linn. Sub-genus. Putorius. Cuvier. 
Mustela vulgaris. Lin. GMELIN, 1, p. 99. 
Mustela nivalis. Lin. Fauna Suec., ii., p. 7. 
Common Weasel. .PENNANT, Arctic Zool. i., p. 75. 
Putorius vulgaris. Cuvier, Régne An. 
Mustela vulgaris. Harzan. Faun.,i., p. 61. 
No. 49. Musrum Zoot, SociEry. 
It is stated in Arctic Zoology, that this species inhabits the Hudson’s Bay coun- 
tries, Newfoundland, and the United States, as far south as Carolina, becoming in 
cold districts white in winter, like the Ermine. It is omitted in Godman’s account 
of the animals of the United States; and the Prince of Musignano is of opinion 
that what has been considered as the common weasel in the United States, is 
merely the ermine in its summer dress. Both species, however, are indubitably 
inhabitants of the American continent, the ermine extending to the most remote 
arctic districts, and the Weasel as far to the north, at least, as the Saskatchewan 
river. Captain Bayfield presented the Zoological Society with specimens of the 
Common Weasel, killed on the borders of Lake Superior, which agree in all 
respects with the European species, and I obtained similar specimens at Carlton 
House. ; | 
DESCRIPTION. 
The Weasel very much resembles the ermine ; but it is a much smaller animal, has a flatter’ 
forehead, a narrower and longer nose, and a much shorter tail. Its fur, short and of inferior 
quality, has, in summer, a dull yellowish-brown colour, deepening into chestnut brown on 
the upper part of the head and nose, and at the tip of the tail into blackish-brown. The 
under parts are yellowish-white, as are also the whole of the feet, and the interior of the legs 
and thighs. The entire of the under jaw is pure white, and the white extends half along the 
upper lip, terminating opposite the anterior part of the orbit, or at the posterior row of 
whiskers. The upper part of the cheek, between the white at the angle of the mouth, and the 
orbit, is included in the brown colour of the head. The tail is of the same colour above and- 
below. The brown and white colours join by a straight well-defined line on the sides of the 
neck and belly, the latter colour occupying nearly one-third less of the circumference of the 
body than the brown. The claws are smaller and more curved than those of the ermine, and 
the extremities are more slender, but longer in proportion to its size. 
