194 The Mammals of Colorado 
Putorius nigripes (Lat. niger, black + peSy foot). 
Black-Footed Ferret. 
Putorius nigripes Aud. and Bach., Quad. N. Am., ii., pp. 297-299, 
pi. 93 (1851). 
Type locality. — Plains of the Platte River, Nebraska. 
Measurements. — Male : total length, 19.35 ; tail vert., 4 ; hind foot, 
2.5. Female: total length, 18; tail vert., 3.6; hind foot, 2.25. 
These are from Colorado specimens. 
Description. — The color is a rather hght buffy, with a dark area 
in the middle of the back; the under parts are a somewhat Hghter 
shade of buffy; tail colored hke body with black tip; a black band 
across face, which takes in eyes; both front and hind feet black, with 
part of the legs. 
The skull is large and massive, broad between orbits, postorbital 
process well developed, and the postorbital constriction great; zygo- 
mata widely spreading; auditory bullae quite large, flattened 
obliquely on outer side. 
The size, color, and peculiar markings at once distinguish this 
animal from any other Colorado weasel. 
Distribution. — The Black-footed Ferret is found on the plains from 
western North Dakota and northern Montana south to Texas. 
In Colorado it is found on the plains east of the mountains, and has 
also been taken west of the Pike's Peak Range, at Divide, Teller 
County, 9,200 feet elevation. One was also found dead in Lake 
Moraine, El Paso County, 10,250 feet elevation, but it is not known 
how it came to be there. The lake is surrounded by hills and 
mountains, with much timber. Divide, however, is open country, 
with prairie-dog towns all about. The animal has also been 
reported from the South Park. A. H. Felger has recorded, in 
University of Colorado Studies, Vol. VII., two mounted specimens 
in the collection of R. S. Ball, Meeker, and which were taken 
within a mile of that place. This is the first definite record I 
have from west of the Continental Divide in Colorado. Mr. Felger 
has kindly given me advance information as to this. The Uni- 
versity of Colorado has in its collection one taken on the Laramie 
River, twelve miles south of the Wyoming line. I am indebted 
to Junius Henderson for this note. 
Habits. — This species is found mostly about prairie-dog 
towns, where it feeds to a great extent on the inhabitants, 
being able to easily follow them anywhere in their holes. 
They also eat any other small animals they may find, and no 
