.8.5.] 539 
[Bangs. 
Description of the type of Putorius {Lutreola) oulgivagus 
Bangs.i 
Type No. 2751, coll. of E. A. and 0. Bangs. ^ adult, from Burbridge, La., 
Jan. 10, 1895. F. L. Small, collector. Total length 567 mm., tail vertebrae 
173 mm., hind foot 71 mm. (measured in the flesh by collector). 
General color. ~ A uniform rich light lustrous brown (of a color impos- 
sible to match by Ridgway's Nomenclature of colors, though perhaps a mix- 
ture of Vandyke brown, burnt umber, and clay color would be nearer to it 
than any) ; the end of the tail is a few shades darker. The chin, a small 
spot on the throat, and a few hairs on the belly, between the legs, are white. 
The under fur is of the same color as the long hairs. 
IS 
Cranial characters. — Tha skull of Putorius vulgioagus 
very weasel-like in its general shape and appearance ; the whole 
of the upper surface being well arched and rounded, not flat- 
tened and level and otter-like, as is the skull of P. vison. This 
difference is particularly noticeable in the frontal bones. The 
region between the postorbital ])rocesses is in P. vison almost 
level. In P. oulgiiuigus this region rounds up fi-om the sides 
to the middle, following the general contom- of the skull. 
The skull of P. vulgivagus is also deeper than that of P. 
vison. The audital bullae of P. vulgivagus are larger, more 
inflated, and deeper than those of P. vison. 
The skull of P. vulgioagus is considerably larger tlian that of 
P. vison. 
The dentition is raucli heavier throughout, particularly the 
last upper molar which is half as large again as the correspond- 
ing tooth in P. vison. This tooth is also much less nipped in 
the middle than in P. nison, ending posteriorly in an almost 
straight line. 
The minks constitute quite a well-marked group in the genus 
Putorius, and their large size, aquatic habits, different coloring, 
and the ])aitial Avebbing of the feet are characters which, taken 
together, make it as well to retain Lutreola as a good subgenus 
of Putorius, but I must confess that I fail to find any characters 
of generic value, and therefore differ from most modern mam- 
malogists who accord to Lutreola full generic rank. 
' r have selected for the type an individual so old that the sutures are all closed 
anil the bony crest.s beginning to develop and yet with the teeth unworn and perfect. 
