180 
U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY-GENERAL REPORT. 
PUTORIUS NIGRESCENS, Aud. & Bach. 
Little Black Mink. 
Putorius nigrescens, Aud. & Bach. N. Am. Quad. Ill, 1853, 104; pi. cxxiv. (Not in first edition.) 
Sf. Ch. —Smaller than the common mink. Color, chestnut brown, glossed with black. Tail almost entirely black. End of 
the chin white. 
It is with very great hesitation that I admit this animal to the rank of a distinct species from 
the common mink ; at least I have not yet been able to make such examinations and com¬ 
parisons as satisfy me of the difference. It is true that in the northern States there is a mink 
of usually small size, and of a considerably darker color and softer fur than others found further 
south ; whether these are more than climatic differences, yet remains to he proved. Specimens 
of very large size, from the upper Missouri and westward to the Pacific, are as dark as those 
in northern New York, although referrible rather to P. vison, on account of their dimensions. 
It is this species or variety that furnishes the most valuable mink skins ; those of best quality 
readily yielding from three to five dollars each to the hunter. In fact, there is, perhaps, no fur 
which approaches so near to that of the famed Russian sable as the northern black mink. In 
nothing is the change of value effected by the caprices of fashion more strikingly illustrated 
than in the case of this fur. Ten years ago, ten cents would have been considered a good price 
for the best skin to he found in a latitude such as that of Pennsylvania, and fifty cents for the 
more northern ones. Since then, the value has increased at least ten-fold, owing to the greater 
appreciation of the fur as an article of dress. 
List of specimens. 
Catalogue number. 
Corresponding No. 
of skull. 
Locality. 
When 
collected. 
Whence obtained. 
Nature of speci¬ 
men. 
Nose to tail. 
Tail to end of vert. 
Tail to end of hairs. 
Length of hind foot. 
1080 
Middleboro’j Mass. 
Nov. 22, 1855 
J. W. P. Jenks. 
Skin...... 
15.00 
5.50 
6.50 
1407 
2254 
Essex county, N. Y. 
Winter. 
Dr. S. E. Hale. 
13.00 
5.50 
6.50 
1.80 
1408 
2255 
_do 
.do , . TT _ 
16.00 
6.50 
8.00 
1028 
2015 
Sept., 1855... 
S. F. Baird. 
1653 
Garrcttsville, Ohio. 
S. M. Luther... . . 
? 716 
Fort Leavenworth. 
Lt. D. N. Couch. 
PUTORIUS NIGRIPES, Aud. & Bach. 
Black-footed Ferret. 
Putorius nigripes, Aud. & Bach. N. Am. Quad. II, 1851, 297 ; pi. xciii, 
Sp. Ch. —Size of the pine marten. Tail, with hairs, one-third the length of head and body. Forehead, feet, and end of tail, 
black. Body yellowish brown above, white beneath. 
I have introduced the diagnosis of this remarkable species from Audubon and Bachman, not 
having had the opportunity of seeing a specimen. Indeed, the only one known is that figured 
and described in the North American Quadrupeds of the above mentioned authors, and collected 
by Mr. Alexander Culbertson, on the lower waters of the Platte. 
The length to root of tail of this specimen is given at 19 inches; of the vertebrae of the tail 
at 4 ; and of the entire tail at 5J inches. 
It is a little remarkable that so conspicuous and well marked a species should have eluded 
the notice of all the recent explorers in the Platte region. 
