236 
THE MAMMALS OF EGYPT. 
[Only differing from the common weasel of Northern Europe (P. nivalis) in being 
larger, e. of about the same size as the stoat (P. erminius). Upper surface uniform 
light chestnut-brown, lower surface more or less white. The amount of white on the 
belly variable, as in the European weasel; the chin usually white with two or three 
brown spots ; the back of the fore limbs and under surface of the fore feet usually with 
more or less white; hind limbs entirely brown; the tail is coloured like the back, 
but towards the extremity the hairs are a somewhat richer brown and rather longer, 
but do not form a distinct brush. In the males the white on the under parts is usually 
more or less stained of a reddish orange-colour, just as males of the stoat are stained 
lemon-colour beneath in Northern Europe. The skull is very similar to that of 
P. erminius, with perhaps a greater development of the occipital ridges. 
Measurements of skulls. 
Old Cairo 
Gizeh. 
Abu Eoash. 
(figured). 
92.7.15.7. 
92.7.15.8. 
d. 
d. 
?. 
mm. 
mm. 
min. 
Greatest length. 
. . . . 51 
46-2 
45-7 
Breadth of zygomata. 
. . . . 28 
25-5 
24-5 
Cranial breadth (mastoids). 
. . . . 25-5 
23-2 
22 
Basal length. 
. . . . 47 
43 
43 
Palatal length.. 
. . . . 22-3 
20-7 
20-3 
Interorbital breadth (narrowest) . . . , 
, . . . 11-7 
10-5 
9-9 
Ruppell says:—“ I cannot agree with Herr Ehrenberg in separating the Egyptian 
animal from the European. It is, moreover, not indigenous to Egypt, but has been 
introduced into the towns and breeds there, where its pursuit of the rats makes it 
very useful.” 
Uesmarest’s description of his Mustela africana was founded on a specimen in the 
Paris Museum received from Lisbon: the locality given was Africa; so that there is 
every probability that it was a specimen of the weasel found in the island of St. Thome, 
where so much trade was carried on by the Portuguese. 
The typical weasel of Northern Europe (P. nivalis, L.) is a small animal with a 
short tail; in Southern Europe the weasels (P. hoccamela, Cetti) are larger with 
a longer tail, and seem to be barely separable from the weasels of Morocco, Algiers, 
and Tunis (P. numidicus, Puch.). ‘ In Malta a larger form is found which does 
not appear in any way distinct from the animal found in Egypt and also on the 
island of St. Thome, off the West Coast of Africa. These latter animals are fully as 
large as, or larger than, the stoat (P. erminius, L.) of Northern Europe. The identity of 
the weasels of Malta, Egypt, and St. Thome has been advocated by Mr. Thomas (P. Z. S. 
