175 
brown above, whitish below, with a shorter tail, black toward the end.’ 
The tail, black toward the end, is not entirely inconsistent with P. vul- 
garis, although an almost constant character of P. ermineus, while the 
short tail and small size favor Dr. Wheaton’s opinion, formed at the time, 
that the specimen was the Least Weasel, P. vulgaris. The peculiar cir- 
cumstances under which the specimen was found—a Weasel asleep, con- 
trary to the old adage—and the vigorous defense it made by use of its 
anal glands, are full of interest, and warrant the introduction, in this 
connection, of the faithful account Dr. Wheaton has given me of the 
capture and loss of the specimen under consideration : 
“Five students, of Denison University, Granville, Ohio, among whom was myself. 
were so fortunate as to secure the company of five young ladies from the seminary, for 
a picnic at Black Hand Rock. The ascent to the top of this rock is somewhat difficult, 
and was made single file. I was ahead, followed by a now eminent attorney, a late Briga- 
dier General, and the young ladies, all of whom are now ornaments to society and mothers 
in Israel. Suddenly I noticed a little animal apparently a:leep at my feet. I instinct- 
ively grabbed it, and as instinctively the General hit it with a stick so hard that 
it was somewhat stunned. I held up my trophy to the view of the young ladies, muck 
gratified that I was able, so early in the day, to prove myself a hero. Greatly to my sur- 
prise, they turned their heads away in shame, crying ‘Put it down! put it down!’ At 
the same time my nose took the general alarm, and turning to the beast, which I still 
held in my hand, I discovered a miniature volcano on either side of its anus, sending 
forth sulphurous fire and smoke. [| felt that I had betier die than surrender just then, 
and held on to it, in spite of my immediate inclinations, insisting that I was going te 
skin it and take it home. The young ladies insisted, declared, and almost cried, until I 
thought the cruel joke was turned from me, when I surrendered and dashed it against 
the rock. The animal certainly was an adult, as far as the anal glands were concerned. 
Whether Weasel or Ermine, one is certainly excusable in dropping, 
under such circumstances, an animal whcse odor ‘‘is only Hoa penetra- 
ting and more fugitive than that of the Skunk itself.” 
Page 41. TAXIDEA AMERICANA Baird. 
should stand as ° 
TAXIDEA AMERICANA (Bodd.) Baird. 
Page 48. MEPHITIS MEPHITICA Baird. 
should stand as 
MEPHITIS MEPHITICA (Shaw) Baird, 
Page 56. LUTRA CANADENSIS Sabine. 
should stand as 
LUTRA CANADENSIS (Turton) Sabine. 
Page 93. SCAPANUS BREWERI (Bach.) Jordan. 
should stand as 
ScAPANUS BREWERI (Bach.) Porrel. 
