MAMMALS-MARTIJVAE-PUTORIUS VISON. 
179 
there are no white spots whatever. The tail is generally darker than the body ; in most cases 
nearly black in its terminal portion. 
In the very great variation in size of different specimens, I would not be much surprised if 
the upper Missouri should furnish a new species, characterized by its very large size, and 
including number 1025. I am unwilling, however, to give a new name to this, in my ignorance 
as to whether the eastern species of mink ever attains these dimensions. The difference in color 
of the two mentioned above is not sufficient to constitute a species, especially as there is a dark 
brown one (1751) equally large with the lighter colored, (1755,) and otherwise agreeing 
perfectly with it. 
Specimens from the south have coarser and stiffer hair than more northern ones. The feet in 
summer generally are more naked than in winter. 
I regret not having had the opportunity of comparing the American mink with its near 
relative, P. lutreola of Europe and Asia. Judging from the descriptions of authors, this species 
appears to be smaller, and to have the edges of the upper lip white, a feature which never occurs 
in the American animal. It is one of the rarest of European mammals, very different from our 
species, which is so well known to every farmer as the pest of his existence. Cases are not 
unfrequent where a mink in a single night has killed twenty or thirty chickens or other 
domestic fowls. 
List of specimens. 
a 
i 
i 
o 
Corresponding No. 
of skull. 
Ul 
Locality. 
Whence obtained. 
Original number, j 
Nature of speci- 
Nose to tail. 1 
_ J 
j Tail to end of vert. 
Tail to end of hairs, j 
Length of fore foot. 
Length of hind foot. 
Collected by— 
675 
1847 
Carlisle, Pa?... 
S. F. Baird. 
Dry skin. 
805 
St. Simon’s island, Ga. 
G. WUrdemann. 
2303 
Prairie Mer Rouge, La. 
James Fairie. 
19.00 
8.75 
11.00 
2.80 
162 
1145 
14.00 
6.50 
7.75 
2.40 
163 
1146 
1390 
Bloomington, 111. 
R. Kennicott. 
....do. 
17.00 
6.00 
7.50 
2.60 
S. Arnv. 
.'2329 
West Northfield, Ill. 
.do. 
Skin in alcohol. 
731 
o 
.do. 
Dry skin. 
15.00 
7.00 
8.00 
2.40 
1154' 
Wisconsin....... 
A. C. Barry. 
Skin in alcohol. 
17.00 
8.00 
9.25 
1.90 
2.50 
1751 
Cannon Ball river, Neb.. 
Lt. G. K. Warren.... 
Dry skin. 
20.00 
8.25 
9.25 
2.80 
Dr.F.V. Hayden. 
? 1755 
Fort Pierre, Neb. r .- T ... 
19.50 
8.00 
9.00 
' 1023 
Disputed island, near Vancouver’s 
Dr. George Suckley .. 
64 
....do . 
20.00 
7.00 
7.50 
3.00 
George Gibbs ... 
island. 
1423 
Klamath Lake, Cal.. 
1176 
Upper Klamath Lake, Cal........ 
Lt. R. S. Williamson.. 
....do . 
17.50 
6.00 
7.00 
Dr J.S.Newberry. 
San Francisco. 
Lt. Trowbridge. 
....do . 
655 
Fort Steilacoom, W. T. 
Dr. George Suckley .. 
18 
....do . 
14.50 
5.50 
6.50 
2387 
Cape Flattery, W. T. 
137 
Hunter’s skin 
2388 
2389 
146 
_do. 
2390 
2391 
2392 
140 
TfT .do , _ 
138 
_do. 
2402 
Fort Steilacoom, W. T...... 
1 
Skin in alcohol. 
i 
1 From tip of nose to eye, 1. 05 ; to ear, 2.15 ; to occiput, 3. 00. 
