WHITE WEASEL. 
65 
Inches. 
From point of nose to end of tail, - - - - IQi 
Tail (vertebrae), ....... 5 
Tail to end of hair, 6 
Height of ear, - | 
Breadth of ear, - -- -- -- - | 
Fore claws and hind claws stretching out to the black hair 
of the tail, 14i 
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 
If, as we feel confident after having examined more than a hundred 
specimens from both continents, the American Ermine is identical with 
that of Europe, it will be found to have the widest range of any quadruped 
at present known. It exists in the colder portions of Asia, and in the 
temperate, as well as in all the Northern States of Europe. We have seen 
specimens from England and Scotland, from France, Germany, Switzer- 
land, Denmark, Sweden, and Russia. ' 
In America, its geographical range is also very extensive. Dr. Dekay 
(see Fauna, N. Y., p. 37) supposes it to be a northern animal, found as 
far south as Pennsylvania. We agree with him in his supposition that it 
is a northern animal, as it is only found in the Southern States where the 
country is mountainous or considerably elevated. It exists in the polar re- 
gions of America as far north as Franklin, Parry, Richardson, Lyon and 
other explorers were able to penetrate. It is found in Nova Scotia and 
Canada, and in all the Eastern and Northern States. We observed it 
along the whole chain of mountains in Virginia and North Carolina. We 
obtained a specimen from Abbeville in South Carolina, from our friend 
Dr. Barrett, a close observer and a good naturalist ; and another from 
Mr. Fisher, from Orangeburg District. We have ascertained that it 
exists in the mountains of Georgia, where we are penning this article. 
We saw a specimen procured by Townsend in Oregon, and have heard of 
its existence in North California. It is, however, not found in the maritime 
districts of any of the Southern States, and in Carolina and Georgia does 
not approach within fifty miles of the seaboard; and even when it exists 
on the most elevated portions of country, it is, like the ruffed grouse in 
similar localities, a rare species. 
general remarks. 
Writers on Natural History, up to the time of Harlan, Godman and 
Richardson, without having instituted very close comparisons, considered 
VOL. II. — 9. 
