190S.] 



MAMMALS. 



237 



Simpson, Xovember 15. 1903. In the latter the tinge of the nnderfur 

 of the back is a trifle more ochraceous than in the type of M. horla; 

 the hind feet and legs agree precisely ; the fore feet and legs are less 

 black; the general color beneath differs only in being slightly more 

 ochraceous than the type, but agrees exactly with a topotype (No. 

 13487). On the head and face the Fort Simpson specimen and the 

 type of J/, horia agree precisely : the throat patch is less extensiye in 

 the former but agrees in color. A young animal taken near Fort 

 Simpson early in the summer of 1904, and examined late in Juty, was 

 of a nearly uniform umber brown throughout. It was then about 

 half grown and had become quite tame. It was yery playful, but 

 was inclined to use its teeth, which were too sharp for comfort. 



The ayerage measurements of a number of skulls from yarious 

 localities follow. These were taken from specimens which had 

 attained full size. They were mainly old, were selected on account of 

 their large size, and probably are all males. Fiye from the Jasper 

 Plouse region ayerage: Basal length (measured from inferior lip of 

 foramen magnum to posterior base of middle incisors) 76 ; zygomatic 

 breadth 48 ; breadth across post orbital processes 22.6. Fiye from the 

 Athabaska below Grand Eapid ayerage: Basal length 79; zygomatic 

 breadth 49.6; post orbital breadth 23.8. Fiye from Slaye Riyer ayer- 

 age": 78.8, 46.4, 23.2 ; fiye from Fort Rae, 77, 48, 23.6"; fiye from Fort 

 Mcpherson, 80, 48.2, 23.2; an adult from Fort Simpson measures 79, 

 50, 23; the sladl of the Fort Franklin specimen measures 75, 45, 21; 

 th^adult male from near Leith Point, Great Bear Lake, measures 69, 

 44,"^2 ; the immature male measures 68, 40, 20. These latter specimens, 

 in conjunction with their small size, haye yery small teeth and may 

 represent a dwarfed race occupying the extreme edge of the timbered 

 belt. 



The flesh measurements of a number of specimens are 'as follows: 

 An adult male from Fort Simpson, total length 585, tail yertebrse 188, 

 hind foot 90; the male from Fort Franklin, 615, 180, 100; the adult 

 male from near Leith Point, 570, 160, 90; the immature male from 

 same place, 545, 150, 85. 



A male taken by J. Alden Loring near Henry House, Alberta, Sep- 

 tember 26, 1895, agrees almost preciseh^ in color with the specimen 

 from Fort Franklin, described aboye, with the exception of the feet 

 and legs, which are a much lighter brown. It measured : Total length 

 589, tail yertebrce 155, hind foot (measured dry) 82. It is referred 

 only proyisionally to J/, a. actuosa. Cranially it agrees essentially 

 with this form and differs widely in characters from the Mustela 

 caurina type, to which the animal occupying the Rocky Mountains 

 to the southward belongs. 



A skin of an almost perfect albino was sent to the National Museum 

 from Fort Chipewyan some years ago by MacFarlane. The head 

 and neck are pure white; general color of rest of fur white, tinged 



