xliv 
Carnivora. MAMMALIA. Carnivora. 
always won. There is a show of audacity and cour- 
age in this little thing, which would be absurd were 
it not backed by real and serious results. It attacks 
Man with as little hesitation as it does a Mouse. 
Instances are known where tliey have united several 
in a group, and attacked a horse and rider. As 
savage as the Weasel appears, it is often tamed, and 
becomes a safe and interesting pet. A lady gives an 
account of one that seems to have become, to her, as 
completely tamed as a Cat or Dog. She says : “ In 
the midst of twenty people this little animal distin- 
guishes my voice, seeks me out, and springs over 
everybody to come to me. With his two little paws 
he pats me under the chin with an air and manner 
of extreme delight. lie also played with a Cat and 
Dog with equal familiarity.” Other instances are 
recorded of this species being tamed. 
The specific characters are; Color same as in P. nove- 
boracensis in its summer coat, but smaller ; unchanging; 
tail one fourth of the whole length ; length twelve to 
thirteen inches. It remains brown throughout the 
year in the United States. Sir John Eichardson 
states that it changes to white in tlie northern re- 
gions. Prince Maximilian states that this species is 
white in winter, but does not say in what locality. 
Fine specimens that were obtained by the prince 
in America are now in the collection of the Ameri- 
can Museum, New York. 
SMALL BROWN WEASEL {Putorius cicognanii, 
Baird). — This is regarded as one of the most easily 
identified and strongly marked species. It is nearer 
the pusillus, yet distinguished by its longer tail and 
black tip. This Weasel seems to be common in 
Massachusetts, but its geographical range is not well 
established. It is characterized by being brown in 
color above and white beneath. The tail is one fifth 
of the whole length, d’he feet have long hairs. Its 
length to tail is about eight inches ; tail vertebrae, one 
third of this. Two fifths of the tail is black. The 
form is rather more robust than the preceding. 
RICHARDSON’S WEASEL (Putorius richardsonii, 
Baird). — 'I’his is a little larger than the preceding. 
It is found in much the same localities. 'I’he hairs 
do not form a brush on the tail, as in some species. 
'I'he feet are much smaller, more delicate and slender 
than in P. noveboracensis ; though actually larger 
in body, the feet are relatively smaller than in P. 
cicognanii ; the tail, of course, is considerably longer ; 
the ears are higher and narrower at the base than in 
the last-mentioned species. It is readily distinguished 
from P. cicognanii by the longer tail, the vertebrae 
alone of which are half the length of the body, in- 
stead of requiring the entire tail to effect the same 
proportion. It is much smaller and darker than P. 
noveboracensis, and the whole upper lip is brown. 
Specific characters : Length of body to its tail, 
nine inches or less ; the tail vertebrae about half this 
length; the black of the tail is one half or two 
thirds its length. In summer, it is a dark chestnut- 
brown above, whitish beneath ; whole upper jaw 
brown, in winter white. 'I’he tail has a black tip. 
COMMON WEASEL [Putorius novehoraceusis, I)e 
Kay). — AViiite Wn.ASEr, is another name for this 
species; and De Kay has described it as the New 
York Ermine. Pennant calls it Stoat Weasel, from 
its apparent affinity with the English Stoat. Harlan 
has it the Mustela erminea, and God man the Ermine 
Weasel. Among the trappers it is called Catamingo. 
This Weasel is found as far south as Pennsylvania, 
and specimens have been found in Wisconsin and 
Arkansas. It is not known north of Massachusetts, 
but is probably distributed throughout the .Southern 
and South-western States. Compared with P. cicog- 
nanii, its longer tail and larger body will at once 
distinguish it. Compared with the Ermine of Europe 
— P. erminea — it is decidedly different. 'I’he most 
striking variation is in the tail, which, including the 
hairs in P. erminea, is about as long or a little 
longer than half the body. 'Flie hairs on the extrem- 
ity are very long and bushy. This Weasel, it is 
thought, does not change its color, remaining brown 
throughout the year as far north as Massachusetts. 
'I’here seems to be some doubt expressed about its 
being white at all in winter, in any latitude. 
THE LONG-TAILED WEASEL (P. longicauda. 
Rich) — 'I’his is a larger species, its length to tail be- 
ing about eleven inches, the tail vertebrae being 
about half this length ; the black of the tail is about 
one fourth of the length. 'Phe color of body above 
is a light olivaceous-brown, with a brownish-yellow 
beneath ; the edge of the upper lip and chin is white ; 
in winter it is pure white throughout, the tail with a 
black tip. 'i’he light space on the belly is much 
wider than that of P. noveboracensis. IMuzzle is 
broad. Baird, in Pac. R. R. Rep., Zoology, says : 
“'I’his species, which belongs to the section of Er- 
mine Weasels, is larger than any of its congeners, 
excepting the American Ermines. Like the P. nigri- 
pes of And. and Bachman, it is characterized by the 
breadth of the muzzle, as very distinctly shown in 
the skull. 'I’he hair is, even where remarkably stiff, 
coarse and short, much like that of the P. frenata.” 
It is doubtful whether it changes its color in the 
colder months. 
KANE’S ERMINE [Putorius laneii, Baird).— ’V\i\s 
is from the regions of the north west, and is said to 
be a perfect miniature of the Old World Ermine. It 
has been named by Prof. Baird for the lamented 
Kane, the medical officer of the first Polar Expedi- 
tion sent out by our country in search for Sir John 
Franklin. In this connection Prof. Baird says : “As 
the most Arctic mammal it may ever be my privilege 
to name, and especially as an Ermine, emblem of 
spotless purity and integrity, I propose to call it 
after Dr. Kane, the devoted martyr to the cause of 
science and humanity, and thus impose upon it an 
appellation which will be understood and appreciated 
in whatever portion of the world this description 
may be read.” 
'I’he specific characters are thus given: “Length 
to tail about eight and a half inches ; tail vertebrae 
about one sixth this length ; black of tail one half 
the total length. In summer brown above, edge of 
upper lip, whitish ; in winter white, tail with black 
tip. 'I’he fur is soft and fine ; above, of rather a dark 
chestnut-brown ; beneath, sulphur-yellow. 'I'he under 
