Compared with the skull of the male ofnevadensis, no single difference not covered by individual variation innevadensishas been detected. Selected differences ofinyoensisin comparison withlatirostraare larger size, less inflated tympanic bullae and relative narrowness of the postorbital, interorbital and preorbital parts of the skull. Comparison of the skull with that ofM. f. pulchrais made in the account of that subspecies.
Remarks.—Although two specimens of this subspecies were taken during the Death Valley Survey conducted by Dr. C. Hart Merriam, only three additional individuals are known to have been saved as study specimens since that time.
M. f. inyoensisas now known may be thought of as closely similar toM. f. nevadensisexcept for the presence of well-developed white facial markings like those found in the weasels of the San Joaquin Valley and coastal region of California south of San Francisco Bay. The nonwhite areas of the head are almost the same color as the back and not distinctly blackish as inM. f. latirostraandM. f. nigriauris. The one specimen in the winter coat, no. 25392/32805, U. S. Nat. Mus., from Lone Pine, is brown rather than white. The brown has the pale smoke-tinge common in the winter pelage of subspecies whose members are either brown or white in winter. The range of this subspecies is thought to include the floor and lower elevations of Owens Valley although it may occur in limited numbers southwestward along the base of the Sierra Nevada and through the mountains in places of low elevation like Walker Pass its range may meet that ofpulchra.
The type specimen was taken in an alfalfa field by ranch hands, who, according to A. C. Shelton (MS), stated that the species was common at the type locality. None of the five specimens shows infestation of the frontal sinuses by parasites.
Specimens examined.—Total number, 5, listed by localities from north to south.California.Inyo County: Alvord, 4000 ft., 1 (U. S. Nat. Mus.); 2 mi. N Independence, 1 (Mus. Vert. Zoöl.); Lone Pine, 3 (2 in Field Mus. Nat. Hist. and 1 in U. S. Nat. Mus.).
Specimens examined.—Total number, 5, listed by localities from north to south.
California.Inyo County: Alvord, 4000 ft., 1 (U. S. Nat. Mus.); 2 mi. N Independence, 1 (Mus. Vert. Zoöl.); Lone Pine, 3 (2 in Field Mus. Nat. Hist. and 1 in U. S. Nat. Mus.).
Long-tailed Weasel
Plates1,22,23,24,34,35and36
Putorius frenatus neomexicanusBarber and Cockerell, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1898:188; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:178, 1905.Mustela frenata neomexicana, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:100, December 31, 1912; Bailey, Animal Life of Carlsbad Cavern, p. 97, 1928; Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. 473:108, November 20, 1936.Mustela frenatus neomexicanus, Bailey, N. Amer. Fauna, 35:19, September 5, 1913.
Putorius frenatus neomexicanusBarber and Cockerell, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1898:188; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 19:178, 1905.
Mustela frenata neomexicana, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:100, December 31, 1912; Bailey, Animal Life of Carlsbad Cavern, p. 97, 1928; Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. 473:108, November 20, 1936.
Mustela frenatus neomexicanus, Bailey, N. Amer. Fauna, 35:19, September 5, 1913.
Type.—Male, adult, skull and skin; no. 10475, Mus. Comp. Zoöl.; Armstrongs Lake, Mesilla Park, Dona Ana County, New Mexico; February 1, 1898; obtained by A. C. Tryson; original no. 58 of C. M. Barber.The skull is imperfectly cleaned but unbroken. The right upper incisors, right P2 and left p3 are broken away. The skin is indifferently stuffed but in a good state of preservation except that the distal part of the tail is missing. The animal's coat is ragged, and this imperfect appearance is heightened by injury to the posterior part of the body, probably at the time of capture.Range.—From 3800 feet (type locality) to 9000 feet (Cloudcroft, N. Mex.); Upper Sonoran and Lower Sonoran life-zones of northern México, southeastern Arizona, New Mexico and western Texas, panhandle of Oklahoma, southeastern Colorado and southwestern Kansas. See figure29on page221.Characters for ready recognition.—Differs fromM. f. frenataandM. f. texensisby Buckthorn Brown rather than Brussels Brown color of upper parts, mastoid breadth of adult males ordinarily more, rather than less, than postpalatal length; fromM. f. leucopariaby Buckthorn Brown rather than Argus Brown color of upper parts, distance from anterior margin of tympanic bulla to foramen ovale less, rather than more, than four-fifths height of tympanic bulla; fromM. f. arizonensisandM. f. nevadensisby Buckthorn Brown, rather than near (14n) Brussels Brown or, in winter, white color of upper parts, in presence of white frontal spot continuous with color of underparts, in basilar length of more than 46 mm. in males and 40 mm. in females; fromM. f. longicaudaby Buckthorn Brown rather than near (h) Clay Color of upper parts, by presence of white facial markings on Argus Brown head, and by length of tooth-rows amounting to less than 37 per cent of basilar length; fromM. f. primulinaby Buckthorn Brown rather than Brussels Brown color of upper parts, in presence of white frontal spot and broad white bands on side of head, in anteriorly truncate rather than anterolaterally rounded bullae and zygomatic breadth of more than 30 in males and 24 in females.Description.—Size.—Male: The type specimen (see Barber and Cockerell, 1898:188) measured: Total length, 500; length of tail, 205; length of hind foot, 50. Tail 70 per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind foot less than basal length.Female: No. 21779 from Tombstone, Arizona, measured: Total length, 419; length of tail, 165; length of hind foot from dried skin, 41 (probably 43 in flesh). Tail 65 per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind foot less than basal length.The average differences in external measurements of the two sexes, as known from these two individuals, are: Total length, 81; length of tail, 40; length of hind foot, 7.Compared withM. f. frenata, the size, proportions of parts and difference in size of the two sexes, appears to be about the same.Externals.—Longest facial vibrissae colored like upper parts [in the type specimen some of the "long bristles of the upper lip" are white as pointed out by Barber and Cockerell (op. cit.: 188)] and extending beyond ear; carpal vibrissae colored like underparts and extending to apical pad of fifth digit; hairiness of foot-soles as shown in figure20.Color.—Broad white bands on sides of head, extending anterodorsally anterior to each ear, confluent with white spot between eyes and with color of underparts; posterior half or all of each upper lip edged with white; usually few white hairs on top of head between ears; remainder of top of head near Argus Brown of Ridgway and Chocolate, tone 4, of Oberthür and Dauthenay; dark spot posterior to each angle of mouth usually absent; tip of tail black; remainder of upper parts varying, in different specimens, from Buckthorn Brown to Dresden Brown of Ridgway, and Brown Pink (tones 3 to 4, pl. 297, of Oberthür and Dauthenay); underparts Antimony Yellow or near (c) Warm Buff of Ridgway, and Brown Pink (tone 1, pl. 297, of Oberthür and Dauthenay); color of underparts extends distally on legs over forefeet and hind feet. Least width of color of underparts averaging 46 (41-55) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts; black tip of tail 35 to 45 mm. long in females; 43 to 68 mm. long in males and averaging 21 (20-36) per cent as long as tail-vertebrae.No specimen of this subspecies in the white winter coat has been seen. Animals taken in midwinter are available from Mesilla Park, Willcox, and 10 miles east of Roswell.FromM. f. frenata,neomexicanadiffers in: upper parts and underparts much lighter colored; white facial markings more extensive; color of underparts more extended onto feet. FromM. f. leucoparia,neomexicanadiffers as follows: above and below, much lighter colored, but white facial markings less extensive and color of underparts less extended onto feet and legs.Skull and teeth.—Male (based on adults: the type; no. 131582 from Berino, New Mexico; and no. 1485 from Seward Co., Kansas): See measurements and plates22-24. As described inMustela frenata frenataexcept that: Weight, 6.2 (4.9 and 7.5); basilar length, 49.3 (48 and 50.5); mastoid breadth more than postpalatal length; least width of palate less than length of P4; anterior margin of masseteric fossa directly below m2 or heel of ml.Female (based on three adults): See measurements and plates34-36. As described inMustela frenata frenataexcept that: Weight, 3.1 (2.6-3.5) grams; basilar length, 42.7 (40.8-45.5); zygomatic breadth less than distance between condylar foramen and M1 and more or less than distance between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla.The skull of the female averages 50 per cent lighter than that of the male.
Type.—Male, adult, skull and skin; no. 10475, Mus. Comp. Zoöl.; Armstrongs Lake, Mesilla Park, Dona Ana County, New Mexico; February 1, 1898; obtained by A. C. Tryson; original no. 58 of C. M. Barber.
The skull is imperfectly cleaned but unbroken. The right upper incisors, right P2 and left p3 are broken away. The skin is indifferently stuffed but in a good state of preservation except that the distal part of the tail is missing. The animal's coat is ragged, and this imperfect appearance is heightened by injury to the posterior part of the body, probably at the time of capture.
Range.—From 3800 feet (type locality) to 9000 feet (Cloudcroft, N. Mex.); Upper Sonoran and Lower Sonoran life-zones of northern México, southeastern Arizona, New Mexico and western Texas, panhandle of Oklahoma, southeastern Colorado and southwestern Kansas. See figure29on page221.
Characters for ready recognition.—Differs fromM. f. frenataandM. f. texensisby Buckthorn Brown rather than Brussels Brown color of upper parts, mastoid breadth of adult males ordinarily more, rather than less, than postpalatal length; fromM. f. leucopariaby Buckthorn Brown rather than Argus Brown color of upper parts, distance from anterior margin of tympanic bulla to foramen ovale less, rather than more, than four-fifths height of tympanic bulla; fromM. f. arizonensisandM. f. nevadensisby Buckthorn Brown, rather than near (14n) Brussels Brown or, in winter, white color of upper parts, in presence of white frontal spot continuous with color of underparts, in basilar length of more than 46 mm. in males and 40 mm. in females; fromM. f. longicaudaby Buckthorn Brown rather than near (h) Clay Color of upper parts, by presence of white facial markings on Argus Brown head, and by length of tooth-rows amounting to less than 37 per cent of basilar length; fromM. f. primulinaby Buckthorn Brown rather than Brussels Brown color of upper parts, in presence of white frontal spot and broad white bands on side of head, in anteriorly truncate rather than anterolaterally rounded bullae and zygomatic breadth of more than 30 in males and 24 in females.
Description.—Size.—Male: The type specimen (see Barber and Cockerell, 1898:188) measured: Total length, 500; length of tail, 205; length of hind foot, 50. Tail 70 per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind foot less than basal length.
Female: No. 21779 from Tombstone, Arizona, measured: Total length, 419; length of tail, 165; length of hind foot from dried skin, 41 (probably 43 in flesh). Tail 65 per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind foot less than basal length.
The average differences in external measurements of the two sexes, as known from these two individuals, are: Total length, 81; length of tail, 40; length of hind foot, 7.
Compared withM. f. frenata, the size, proportions of parts and difference in size of the two sexes, appears to be about the same.
Externals.—Longest facial vibrissae colored like upper parts [in the type specimen some of the "long bristles of the upper lip" are white as pointed out by Barber and Cockerell (op. cit.: 188)] and extending beyond ear; carpal vibrissae colored like underparts and extending to apical pad of fifth digit; hairiness of foot-soles as shown in figure20.
Color.—Broad white bands on sides of head, extending anterodorsally anterior to each ear, confluent with white spot between eyes and with color of underparts; posterior half or all of each upper lip edged with white; usually few white hairs on top of head between ears; remainder of top of head near Argus Brown of Ridgway and Chocolate, tone 4, of Oberthür and Dauthenay; dark spot posterior to each angle of mouth usually absent; tip of tail black; remainder of upper parts varying, in different specimens, from Buckthorn Brown to Dresden Brown of Ridgway, and Brown Pink (tones 3 to 4, pl. 297, of Oberthür and Dauthenay); underparts Antimony Yellow or near (c) Warm Buff of Ridgway, and Brown Pink (tone 1, pl. 297, of Oberthür and Dauthenay); color of underparts extends distally on legs over forefeet and hind feet. Least width of color of underparts averaging 46 (41-55) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts; black tip of tail 35 to 45 mm. long in females; 43 to 68 mm. long in males and averaging 21 (20-36) per cent as long as tail-vertebrae.
No specimen of this subspecies in the white winter coat has been seen. Animals taken in midwinter are available from Mesilla Park, Willcox, and 10 miles east of Roswell.
FromM. f. frenata,neomexicanadiffers in: upper parts and underparts much lighter colored; white facial markings more extensive; color of underparts more extended onto feet. FromM. f. leucoparia,neomexicanadiffers as follows: above and below, much lighter colored, but white facial markings less extensive and color of underparts less extended onto feet and legs.
Skull and teeth.—Male (based on adults: the type; no. 131582 from Berino, New Mexico; and no. 1485 from Seward Co., Kansas): See measurements and plates22-24. As described inMustela frenata frenataexcept that: Weight, 6.2 (4.9 and 7.5); basilar length, 49.3 (48 and 50.5); mastoid breadth more than postpalatal length; least width of palate less than length of P4; anterior margin of masseteric fossa directly below m2 or heel of ml.
Female (based on three adults): See measurements and plates34-36. As described inMustela frenata frenataexcept that: Weight, 3.1 (2.6-3.5) grams; basilar length, 42.7 (40.8-45.5); zygomatic breadth less than distance between condylar foramen and M1 and more or less than distance between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla.
The skull of the female averages 50 per cent lighter than that of the male.
As compared with the skull of the male ofM. f. frenata, that ofneomexicanais decidedly more angular and ridged. The postorbital constriction is narrower, the mastoid breadth greater (it is less than the postpalatal length in some subadult males), the sagittal crest much higher with impressions of the temporal and masseter muscles carried farther forward on the frontals, rostrum shorter and tympanic bullae wider and more inflated. Similar, though less marked, differences exist between the females. As compared withM. f. leucopariaandperotae, the same differences as noted above betweenfrenataandneomexicanaexist. In addition the tympanic bullae are so far removed from the foramen ovale that the distance from the anterior end of each bulla to the foramen ovale, instead of being less than the height of tympanic bullae, is inleucopariamore than four-fifths this height and inperotaemore than the entire height. Also, inperotae, the squamosal, anterior to each tympanic bulla, is ventrally convex rather than ventrally concave as inneomexicana. Compared withM. f. longicauda,neomexicanais relatively narrower in the interorbital region, has relatively shorter tooth-rows, a V-shaped rather than a U-shaped interpterygoid space and in males has the interorbital region flat rather than convex and the sagittal crest is higher. The same differences are to be noted in comparison withnevadensisbut here the difference in relative length of tooth-row is less. The same differences exist also in comparison withM. f. arizonensisexcept that its interorbital breadth, relative to the rest of the skull, is about the same. Difference in size is especially marked here; even females ofneomexicanaaverage larger than males ofarizonensis.
Remarks.—When Barber and Cockerell named this subspecies in 1898, they had three specimens. Only two others are known to have been taken before this time. These are a skeleton, without corresponding skin, taken at Lozier, Texas, in 1890 by Wm. Lloyd, and no. 21779/36482, U. S. Nat. Mus., taken on April 6, 1893, by R. D. Lusk at Tombstone, Arizona. On the back of a label recently attached to the last mentioned specimen the name C. K. Worthen appears and probably signifies that the specimen was purchased from this dealer in vertebrate specimens.
M. f. neomexicanahas a large geographic range. The old male from Liberal, Seward County, Kansas, extends the known range far to the northeast. Geographically, this occurrence is logical for the southwestern desertlike conditions extend to this part of Kansas. Probably the subspecies occurs in southeastern Colorado and in the panhandle of Oklahoma where conditions are similar. Bailey (1905:198) listsneomexicanaas a member of the mammalian fauna of Texas. As stated by him (loc. cit.:198) this inclusion is based on geographic grounds and not on actual specimens. Strecker (1926:13) also includesneomexicanain his list of Texas mammals but writes me, under date of January 9, 1928, that "I includedMustela frenata neomexicanaas a Texas mammal on the strength of its being mentioned by Bailey. . . ." On better ground, Bailey (1928:97) lists the subspecies as occurring in southeastern New Mexico at Carlsbad Cavern. However, Bailey (loc. cit.) knew of the existence of weasels just below El Paso and at Langtry, Texas. An unsexed skeleton, no. 167891, in the United States National Museum, from Lozier, Texas, is not certainly identifiable to subspecies. If, as I think, the animal is a female, its skull is intermediate between that offrenataandneomexicanaalthough when all features are considered it is seen to be nearest the latter. The large size (basilar length of 46.5 mm.) may reflect some relationship totexensis. The field notes of the collector furnished me by Dr. H. H. T. Jackson (MS), describe the color as brownish yellow above and sulphur below. The admission of this subspecies to the list of mammals of Texas is made certain by the female (no. 1572, Texas Cooperative Research Collection) taken on July 28, 1940, 1-1/2 mi. NW Kent, Texas, by C. E. Scull.
The skull alone from Durango (City of), extends the known range far to the south. This skull is typical ofneomexicana. Skins from the same place would be especially interesting as showing the approach, if any, in color, ofneomexicanatoM. f. leucoparia.
Mr. D. D. Stone of Casa Grande, Arizona, writes, under date of February 2, 1927, that a weasel was seen by an acquaintance of his in a field near Chandler, Maricopa County, Arizona. Probably this wasneomexicana. If so, its range extends much farther west than collected specimens show.
Actual intergradation withM. f. frenatais not shown by the material at hand. The two females from Albuquerque, although typicallyneomexicanaas regards color, have smaller, less prominently ridged skulls than females ofneomexicanaof the same age from farther south and approachM. f. nevadensis.
Probably the geographic ranges ofM. f. neomexicanaandM. f. latirostrado not meet; the only evidence of the existence of weasels in all of the large area, comprising western Arizona and the deserts of eastern California, which intervenes between the ranges of the two subspecies is the skull of a young individual, no. 68842, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., from 10 miles northeast of Bard, Imperial County, California. There, on December 29, 1932, Jack C. vonBloeker, Jr., retrieved the weathered skull with some of the vertebrae attached, from the top of a wood rat's nest beneath a mesquite tree near the west bank of the Colorado River.
The idea that the carcass may have been washed down the river from far upstream gains no support from a comparison of the specimen itself for the tympanic bullae are larger than innevadensisand the skull is larger than the largest males seen ofarizonensis, the two upriver races. On the basis of size the skull could be either a male oflatirostraor a female ofneomexicana. These two subspecies, likearizonensisand the skull in question, have much inflated bullae. However, the immaturity of the specimen conceals any other diagnostic cranial features, and prevents referring it certainly to eitherneomexicanaorlatirostra. In any event the specimen provides no evidence of intergradation between the two forms last mentioned. Speculating on its identity, I should say that it might be either an intergrade betweenarizonensisandnevadensis, from southern Utah or northwestern Arizona, or a member of an unnamed race resident in the lower part of the valley of the Colorado River.
WhereasM. f. panamensisandM. f. aureoventrisare the darkest-colored weasels and occur in regions of heavy rainfall,M. f. neomexicanais the lightest-colored American weasel and occurs in an extremely arid region where the rainfall and humidity are slight.
According to Barber and Cockerell (1898:189) "The type specimen was shot in the grass on the shore of Armstrong's Lake. . . ." Bailey (1928:97) found the tracks of one of these animals "in the great pit at the west entrance to" Carlsbad Cavern and supposes they "hunt the cave walls for mice and other small game." Data on the label attached to no. 230973 states that the specimen was taken, two miles west of Willcox, Arizona, in a prairie dog town.
Only two of the 23 skulls show evidence of infestation of the frontal sinuses by parasites.
Specimens examined.—Total number, 28, arranged alphabetically by states and from north to south by counties in each state. Unless otherwise indicated specimens are in the United States National Museum.Arizona.Graham County: Safford, 1.Cochise County: 2 mi. W Willcox, 1; Willcox, 1; 8000 ft., Chiricahua Mts., 1; 6000 ft., Pinery Canyon, Chiricahua Mts., 1[33]; Tombstone, 1; Sulphur Spring Valley, 1[74].Durango."Durango City," 1.Kansas.Seward County: Liberal, 1[93].New Mexico.Bernalillo County: 3 mi. NW Albuquerque, 2.Lincoln County: 7800 ft., South Fork Eagle Creek, White Mts., 1.Chaves County: Pecos River, 10 mi. E Roswell, 8[74]; Dexter, 1[74].Otero County: Cloudcroft, 9000 ft., 1[90].Dona Ana County: Mesilla Park, 2 (1[75], 1[7]); Berino, 2.Texas.Culberson County: 1-1/2 mi. NW Kent, 1[90].Terrel County: Lozier, 1.
Specimens examined.—Total number, 28, arranged alphabetically by states and from north to south by counties in each state. Unless otherwise indicated specimens are in the United States National Museum.
Arizona.Graham County: Safford, 1.Cochise County: 2 mi. W Willcox, 1; Willcox, 1; 8000 ft., Chiricahua Mts., 1; 6000 ft., Pinery Canyon, Chiricahua Mts., 1[33]; Tombstone, 1; Sulphur Spring Valley, 1[74].
Durango."Durango City," 1.
Kansas.Seward County: Liberal, 1[93].
New Mexico.Bernalillo County: 3 mi. NW Albuquerque, 2.Lincoln County: 7800 ft., South Fork Eagle Creek, White Mts., 1.Chaves County: Pecos River, 10 mi. E Roswell, 8[74]; Dexter, 1[74].Otero County: Cloudcroft, 9000 ft., 1[90].Dona Ana County: Mesilla Park, 2 (1[75], 1[7]); Berino, 2.
Texas.Culberson County: 1-1/2 mi. NW Kent, 1[90].Terrel County: Lozier, 1.
Long-tailed Weasel
Plates22,23and24
Mustela frenata texensisHall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. 473:99, November 20, 1936.Mustela frenata, Strecker, The Baylor Bull., 27:14, September, 1924.Mustela frenata frenata, Strecker, The Baylor Bull., 27:12, August, 1926 (part).
Mustela frenata texensisHall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. 473:99, November 20, 1936.
Mustela frenata, Strecker, The Baylor Bull., 27:14, September, 1924.
Mustela frenata frenata, Strecker, The Baylor Bull., 27:12, August, 1926 (part).
Type.—Male, adult, skull with skin of head, neck and tail; no. 14821, Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist.; Kerr County, Texas; September 17, 1897; obtained by H. P. Attwater.The skull (plates22-24) and dentition are complete and unbroken. The preserved parts of the skin are not stuffed.Range.—Lower Sonoran and possibly Upper Sonoran life-zones of central Texas. See figure29on page221.Characters for ready recognition.—Differs fromMustela frenata arthuriin possessing white facial markings and postorbital breadth less than distance between posterior borders of P4 and P2; fromM. f. frenatain larger size of body and skull, the basilar length of which in adult males is more than 52.5; fromM. f. neomexicanain Brussels Brown rather than Buckthorn Brown color of upper parts and basilar length of skull more than 52.5.Description.—Size.—Male: Measurements taken from the dried skins of a young male, no. 15476, Mus. Comp. Zoöl., from Kerr County, Texas, and a subadult male, no. 2017, Baylor Univ. Mus., from 5 mi. N Waco, Texas, are, respectively, as follows: Total length, 600 and more than 510; length of tail, 200 and 225; length of hind foot, 52 and 52.Female: Skins unknown.Externals.—As described inMustela frenata frenata.Color.—As described inMustela frenata frenata.Skull and teeth.—Adult male: See measurements and plates22-24. As described inMustela frenata frenataexcept that: Weight, 8 grams; basilar length 54; least width of palate less than length of P4; anterior margin of masseteric fossa anterior to middle of m2.Female: Skull unknown.
Type.—Male, adult, skull with skin of head, neck and tail; no. 14821, Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist.; Kerr County, Texas; September 17, 1897; obtained by H. P. Attwater.
The skull (plates22-24) and dentition are complete and unbroken. The preserved parts of the skin are not stuffed.
Range.—Lower Sonoran and possibly Upper Sonoran life-zones of central Texas. See figure29on page221.
Characters for ready recognition.—Differs fromMustela frenata arthuriin possessing white facial markings and postorbital breadth less than distance between posterior borders of P4 and P2; fromM. f. frenatain larger size of body and skull, the basilar length of which in adult males is more than 52.5; fromM. f. neomexicanain Brussels Brown rather than Buckthorn Brown color of upper parts and basilar length of skull more than 52.5.
Description.—Size.—Male: Measurements taken from the dried skins of a young male, no. 15476, Mus. Comp. Zoöl., from Kerr County, Texas, and a subadult male, no. 2017, Baylor Univ. Mus., from 5 mi. N Waco, Texas, are, respectively, as follows: Total length, 600 and more than 510; length of tail, 200 and 225; length of hind foot, 52 and 52.
Female: Skins unknown.
Externals.—As described inMustela frenata frenata.
Color.—As described inMustela frenata frenata.
Skull and teeth.—Adult male: See measurements and plates22-24. As described inMustela frenata frenataexcept that: Weight, 8 grams; basilar length 54; least width of palate less than length of P4; anterior margin of masseteric fossa anterior to middle of m2.
Female: Skull unknown.
Remarks.—The type specimen, taken by the veteran collector of Texan mammals, H. P. Attwater, appears to have been the first one of these animals to find its way into the collection of any museum or naturalist. The second specimen from Kerr County was secured by, or through, the well-known commercial collector, F. B. Armstrong. Two trade skins, from Kerr County, taken on December 10, 1938, are in the Texas Cooperative Research Collection, as is also the skeleton of a young animal from Fredericksburg. The two other specimens from McLennan County (both males contrary to the statement of Strecker, 1924:14), owe their preservation to the alertness of John K. Strecker, Curator of the Baylor University Museum, who has given a complete account of their history.
The range of this subspecies is thought to include much of central Texas.
The preserved parts of the skin of the type specimen show it to have been generally large. The part of the tail preserved measures 226 millimeters and the skin of the head and neck is correspondingly large. The skin alone, no. 427, from near Waco, Texas, has, as now stuffed, a body 365 millimeters long. Individuals of this race attain larger size than those of any other American member of the subgenusMustelawith the possible exception ofMustela frenata macrophoniusfrom Veracruz, México. In addition to large size,texensisandmacrophoniusare analogous in that each has a small geographic range at the northern end of an extensive range of its similarly colored southern relative from which it differs mainly in size. Each of the two groups,goldmaniandmacrophoniuson the one hand andperotae,frenataandtexensison the other, has relatively uniform color, color pattern and body proportions over a large region but at its northern extremity develops a "giant" population,M. f. macrophoniusandM. f. texensis, respectively. The skull of the type specimen ofM. f. texensisis the largest one seen of any American weasel. The type specimen ofM. f. macrophoniushas a basilar length that is greater by one-tenth of a millimeter but in every other measurement taken the skull ofM. f. texensisis the larger. Its weight, 8 grams, also shows it to be larger.
The broad, white bands in front of the ears are confluent with the white patch between the eyes on both sides in two specimens and on one side only in one other specimen. A white patch between the ears is present in four specimens. The dark spot at each angle of the mouth is absent on both sides in four specimens and on one side only in one other specimen. Thus out of a possible twelve cases, the broad bands in front of the ears are confluent with the spot between the eyes in five cases. Four of the six specimens have a white spot between the ears. The dark spot at each angle of the mouth is present three out of a possible twelve times.
The skull of no. 2017, from five miles north of Waco, is smaller than either of the two skulls seen from Kerr County and in this respect approachesM. f. frenata. There is no actual evidence of intergradation with any other subspecies but intergradation probably does take place withM. f. neomexicanaand possibly withM. f. arthuriandM. f. primulina.
Strecker (1924:14) remarks that of the two specimens obtained near Waco, one was taken in a trap baited for mink and the other was shot in a hen house. None of the four skulls had the frontal sinuses infested with parasites.
Specimens examined.—Total number, 7, arranged by counties from north to south.Texas.McLennan County: 5 mi. N Waco, 1[3]; Erath, 1[3].Gillespie County: Fredericksburg, 1[90].Kerr County: 4[75]; 1[2]; and 2[90]trade skins.
Specimens examined.—Total number, 7, arranged by counties from north to south.
Texas.McLennan County: 5 mi. N Waco, 1[3]; Erath, 1[3].Gillespie County: Fredericksburg, 1[90].Kerr County: 4[75]; 1[2]; and 2[90]trade skins.
Long-tailed Weasel
Plates1,22,23,24,36,37,38and40
Mustela frenataLichtenstein, Darstellung neuer oder wenig bekannter Säugethier, 1832, pl. 42, and corresponding text, unpaged; Seton, Lives of game animals, 2:576, 1929.Mustela brasiliensisSevastianoff, Mem. de l'Acad. Imp. Sci. St. Petersburg, 4:356-363, tab. 4, 1813, name on plate only, the description being in the text (not of Gmelin, 1788); Gray, Proc. Zoöl. Soc. London, 1865:114.Putorius frenatus, Baird Mamms. N. Amer., p. 173, 1858; Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:26, pl. 3, figs. 1, 1a, 1b, June 30, 1896; Bailey, N. Amer. Fauna, 25:198, October 24, 1905.Putorius (Gale) brasiliensis aequatorialisCoues, Fur-bearing animals, p. 142, 1877, part? ("merely as a substitute for Gray's [supposedly] preoccupied name" that is,aureoventris).Putorius (Gale) brasiliensis frenatus, Coues, Fur-bearing animals, p. 142, 1877 (part).Putorius mexicanusCoues, Fur-bearing animals, p. 142, 1877, [nomen nudum, cited by Coues in synonymy as "Putorius mexicanus, Berlandier, MSS. ic. ined. 4 (Tamaulipas and Matamoros)"].Putorius brasiliensis frenata, Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 3:219, April 17, 1891.Putorius brasiliensis frenatus, Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 6:197, May 31, 1894; Bangs, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 10:9, February 25, 1896; Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 8:74, April 22, 1896.Mustela frenata frenata, Strecker, The Baylor Bull., 27:12, August, 1926; Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. 473:108, November 20, 1936.
Mustela frenataLichtenstein, Darstellung neuer oder wenig bekannter Säugethier, 1832, pl. 42, and corresponding text, unpaged; Seton, Lives of game animals, 2:576, 1929.
Mustela brasiliensisSevastianoff, Mem. de l'Acad. Imp. Sci. St. Petersburg, 4:356-363, tab. 4, 1813, name on plate only, the description being in the text (not of Gmelin, 1788); Gray, Proc. Zoöl. Soc. London, 1865:114.
Putorius frenatus, Baird Mamms. N. Amer., p. 173, 1858; Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:26, pl. 3, figs. 1, 1a, 1b, June 30, 1896; Bailey, N. Amer. Fauna, 25:198, October 24, 1905.
Putorius (Gale) brasiliensis aequatorialisCoues, Fur-bearing animals, p. 142, 1877, part? ("merely as a substitute for Gray's [supposedly] preoccupied name" that is,aureoventris).
Putorius (Gale) brasiliensis frenatus, Coues, Fur-bearing animals, p. 142, 1877 (part).
Putorius mexicanusCoues, Fur-bearing animals, p. 142, 1877, [nomen nudum, cited by Coues in synonymy as "Putorius mexicanus, Berlandier, MSS. ic. ined. 4 (Tamaulipas and Matamoros)"].
Putorius brasiliensis frenata, Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 3:219, April 17, 1891.
Putorius brasiliensis frenatus, Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 6:197, May 31, 1894; Bangs, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 10:9, February 25, 1896; Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 8:74, April 22, 1896.
Mustela frenata frenata, Strecker, The Baylor Bull., 27:12, August, 1926; Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. 473:108, November 20, 1936.
Type.—Female, adult, skull and skin; no. 991, Berlin Zool. Mus., México City, México; June, 1829; obtained by F. Deppe.The specimen once mounted, now is remade into a study skin and lacks the distal part of the tail. The skull (plates36-38,40) lacks the basicranial region.Range.—Altitudinally, sea level (Brownsville, Texas) to 7600 feet (Tlalpam, México); from southern Texas as far south as México City; Lower Sonoran to at least Transition life-zone. See figure 29 on page221.Characters for ready recognition.—Differs fromM. f. perotaein nonextension of blackish over anterior fourth of neck, least width of color of underparts more than 37 per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts; height of tympanic bulla more than distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; fromM. f. leucopariaby restricted white facial markings that cover less than half surface of head in front of ears, by nonextension of black of head onto anterior half of neck and by wider (more than 7.8) tympanic bullae; fromM. f. neomexicanaby Brussels Brown rather than Buckthorn Brown color of upper parts and mastoid breadth less than postpalatal length; fromM. f. texensisby smaller size of body and skull (basilar length in adult males less than 52.5); fromM. f. arthuriby white facial markings and postorbital breadth less than distance between posterior borders of P4 and P2; fromM. f. tropicalisby nonextension of blackish over anterior fourth of neck, least width of underparts more than 37 per cent of greatest width of upper parts, postorbital breadth of adult males less than distance between posterior borders of P4 and P2.Description.—Size.—Male: Fifteen adults and subadults from Brownsville, Texas, yield average and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 485 (430-556); length of tail, 202 (165-250); length of hind foot, 48 (40-55). Averages believed to be reliable but extremes probably are not. Tail averages 71 per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind foot less than basal length. Corresponding measurements of an adult male (topotype, no. 50826) from Tlalpam, México, are: 505, 203, 53. Another adult male, from Miquihuana, Tamaulipas, México, measures: 520, 215, 52.Female: Six adults, subadults and young from Brownsville, Texas, yield average and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 420 (362-456); length of tail, 173 (126-200); length of hind foot, 41 (40-46). Tail averages 70 per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind foot more (with possible exception of no. 36362/48732 U. S. Nat. Mus.) than basal length.The average differences in external measurements of the two sexes are: Total length, 65; length of tail, 29; length of hind foot, 7.Externals.—Longest facial vibrissae black and reaching beyond ear; carpal vibrissae same color as underparts and extending to apical pad of fifth digit; hairiness of foot-soles as shown in figure20.Color.—Spot between eyes, broad band, confluent with color of underparts, on each side of head extending anterodorsally anterior to each ear, and posterior two-thirds to one-half of each upper lip, white; remainder of sides and top of head, posteriorly to line connecting posterior margins of ears, blackish; dark spot posterior to angle of mouth present on both sides in about half the specimens; tip of tail black; remainder of upper parts Brussels Brown; chin white; remainder of underparts near (16´a) Ochraceous-Buff (same color in juveniles and young), which color extends distally on posterior sides of forelegs over forefeet and on medial sides of hind legs to feet and sometimes onto upper sides of toes. Least width of color of underparts averaging, in a series of seventeen males from Brownsville, Texas, 47 (extremes 38-53) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail, in same series, averaging 49 (extremes 40-55) mm. long, thus about equal to length of hind foot and averaging 24 per cent of length of tail-vertebrae.Skull and teeth.—Male (based on ten adults from Brownsville): See measurements and plates22-24; weight (three adults, one topotype and two from Brownsville, Texas), 6.2 (5.3-7.2) grams; basilar length, 49.8 (48.2-51.3); zygomatic breadth more than distance between condylar foramen and M1 or than between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; mastoidal breadth less than postpalatal length; postorbital breadth less than length of upper premolars (less than distance between posterior borders of P4 and P2) and not greater (usually less) than width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; interorbital breadth not greater than distance between foramen opticum and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum less than length of tympanic bulla; least width of palate more or less than length of P4; anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 3 or 4 (including I3) upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla more than distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla more than length of lower molar and premolar tooth-row and longer or shorter (usually longer) than rostrum; anterior margin of masseteric fossa just behind m2.Female (based on two adults from Brownsville, Texas): See measurements and plates36-38,40; weight, 3.4 (3.3-3.5) grams; basilar length (six, adult to young) 43.3 (41.3-47.3); zygomatic breadth more or less than distance between condylar foramen and M1 and more than distance between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; postorbital breadth less than length of upper premolars and more or less than (about equal to) width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; least width of palate less than outside length of P4; tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 2 to 3-1/2 (including I3) upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla more than distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla more than length of lower molar and premolar tooth-row and longer or shorter than rostrum.The skull of the female averages 45 per cent lighter than that of the average male.
Type.—Female, adult, skull and skin; no. 991, Berlin Zool. Mus., México City, México; June, 1829; obtained by F. Deppe.
The specimen once mounted, now is remade into a study skin and lacks the distal part of the tail. The skull (plates36-38,40) lacks the basicranial region.
Range.—Altitudinally, sea level (Brownsville, Texas) to 7600 feet (Tlalpam, México); from southern Texas as far south as México City; Lower Sonoran to at least Transition life-zone. See figure 29 on page221.
Characters for ready recognition.—Differs fromM. f. perotaein nonextension of blackish over anterior fourth of neck, least width of color of underparts more than 37 per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts; height of tympanic bulla more than distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; fromM. f. leucopariaby restricted white facial markings that cover less than half surface of head in front of ears, by nonextension of black of head onto anterior half of neck and by wider (more than 7.8) tympanic bullae; fromM. f. neomexicanaby Brussels Brown rather than Buckthorn Brown color of upper parts and mastoid breadth less than postpalatal length; fromM. f. texensisby smaller size of body and skull (basilar length in adult males less than 52.5); fromM. f. arthuriby white facial markings and postorbital breadth less than distance between posterior borders of P4 and P2; fromM. f. tropicalisby nonextension of blackish over anterior fourth of neck, least width of underparts more than 37 per cent of greatest width of upper parts, postorbital breadth of adult males less than distance between posterior borders of P4 and P2.
Description.—Size.—Male: Fifteen adults and subadults from Brownsville, Texas, yield average and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 485 (430-556); length of tail, 202 (165-250); length of hind foot, 48 (40-55). Averages believed to be reliable but extremes probably are not. Tail averages 71 per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind foot less than basal length. Corresponding measurements of an adult male (topotype, no. 50826) from Tlalpam, México, are: 505, 203, 53. Another adult male, from Miquihuana, Tamaulipas, México, measures: 520, 215, 52.
Female: Six adults, subadults and young from Brownsville, Texas, yield average and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 420 (362-456); length of tail, 173 (126-200); length of hind foot, 41 (40-46). Tail averages 70 per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind foot more (with possible exception of no. 36362/48732 U. S. Nat. Mus.) than basal length.
The average differences in external measurements of the two sexes are: Total length, 65; length of tail, 29; length of hind foot, 7.
Externals.—Longest facial vibrissae black and reaching beyond ear; carpal vibrissae same color as underparts and extending to apical pad of fifth digit; hairiness of foot-soles as shown in figure20.
Color.—Spot between eyes, broad band, confluent with color of underparts, on each side of head extending anterodorsally anterior to each ear, and posterior two-thirds to one-half of each upper lip, white; remainder of sides and top of head, posteriorly to line connecting posterior margins of ears, blackish; dark spot posterior to angle of mouth present on both sides in about half the specimens; tip of tail black; remainder of upper parts Brussels Brown; chin white; remainder of underparts near (16´a) Ochraceous-Buff (same color in juveniles and young), which color extends distally on posterior sides of forelegs over forefeet and on medial sides of hind legs to feet and sometimes onto upper sides of toes. Least width of color of underparts averaging, in a series of seventeen males from Brownsville, Texas, 47 (extremes 38-53) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail, in same series, averaging 49 (extremes 40-55) mm. long, thus about equal to length of hind foot and averaging 24 per cent of length of tail-vertebrae.
Skull and teeth.—Male (based on ten adults from Brownsville): See measurements and plates22-24; weight (three adults, one topotype and two from Brownsville, Texas), 6.2 (5.3-7.2) grams; basilar length, 49.8 (48.2-51.3); zygomatic breadth more than distance between condylar foramen and M1 or than between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; mastoidal breadth less than postpalatal length; postorbital breadth less than length of upper premolars (less than distance between posterior borders of P4 and P2) and not greater (usually less) than width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; interorbital breadth not greater than distance between foramen opticum and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum less than length of tympanic bulla; least width of palate more or less than length of P4; anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 3 or 4 (including I3) upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla more than distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla more than length of lower molar and premolar tooth-row and longer or shorter (usually longer) than rostrum; anterior margin of masseteric fossa just behind m2.
Female (based on two adults from Brownsville, Texas): See measurements and plates36-38,40; weight, 3.4 (3.3-3.5) grams; basilar length (six, adult to young) 43.3 (41.3-47.3); zygomatic breadth more or less than distance between condylar foramen and M1 and more than distance between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; postorbital breadth less than length of upper premolars and more or less than (about equal to) width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; least width of palate less than outside length of P4; tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 2 to 3-1/2 (including I3) upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla more than distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla more than length of lower molar and premolar tooth-row and longer or shorter than rostrum.
The skull of the female averages 45 per cent lighter than that of the average male.
Comparison of the skull with those ofM. f. arthuri,tropicalis,perotae,leucopariaandneomexicanahas been made in accounts of those subspecies. As compared withM. f. texensis(known only from males), the only difference detected is smaller size.
Remarks.—As Merriam (1896:27) has said: "In 1813 a Russian naturalist, Sevastianoff, gave the name 'Mustela brasiliensis' to a weasel brought to St. Petersburg by Capt. A. J. Krusenstern on his return from a voyage around the world. The animal was said to have come from Brazil, but no definite locality was given." This name was long applied by many European naturalists to American weasels which had white facial markings, and several American naturalists adopted the name. However, Lichtenstein in 1832 applied the nameMustela frenatato the weasels of the vicinity of México City and that name was used for bridled weasels from México and the southwestern United States by most subsequent German writers and by several Americans. In 1896 Merriam (1896:27) showed that Sevastianoff'sMustela brasiliensis, 1813, although probably the same asMustela frenata, was preoccupied by Gmelin'sMustela brasiliensis, 1788, applied to an otter and that Lichtenstein's name must be used as the next available one. Since that time, 1896,frenatahas been the name applied to the large bridled-weasels of Texas and the high table land of México south to México City. It may be added that in 1937 search by the writer among the specimens and records at the Russian Academy of Sciences, in Leningrad, failed to reveal any trace of the type specimen of Sevastianoff'sMustela brasiliensis.
The geographic range of this subspecies is relatively large and, as might therefore be expected, specimens show geographic variation. The specimens from Tlalpam, which Merriam (op. cit.:27) regards as topotypes, differ in certain respects from specimens from Texas. The skull of the adult male "topotype," no. 50826, differs from any other adult male seen in that the basilar length, the length of the upper tooth-rows, the orbitonasal length, the ratio of the same to the basilar length, the mastoidal breadth, the zygomatic breadth, the depth of the skull at the posterior margins of the upper molars, and the length and breadth of M1, are greater. The height of the tympanic bullae is less than the average height for these structures in more northern specimens. The specimens from Tlalpam have also larger external measurements than the average of more northern specimens. All of these features show an approach to the subspecies of more southern distribution. On the other hand, the blackish of the head is not more intense or more extended posteriorly onto the neck than in specimens from Brownsville, Texas. The skin, with skull crushed, no. 767, in the Paris Museum, from 3200 meters elevation near Toluca, does have the black color of the head extended 30 millimeters posteriorly to the ears. In this feature, and also in the extensively white face on which the white bar in front of each ear connects with the frontal spot, as well as with the color of the underparts, the specimen resemblesleucoparia. Better material from the western part of the state of México may show the range ofleucopariato extend eastward almost or quite to Toluca.
An adult male, taken on July 15 at Miquihuana, Tamaulipas, is unique in several respects. The top of its head is black, rather than blackish, and this color extends posteriorly on the top and sides of the neck almost halfway to the shoulders. All of the upper parts are much more darkly colored than in other specimens of this race. The least width of the color of the underparts is 63 per cent of the greatest width of the color of the upper parts; thus the color of the underparts is considerably more extensive than in any other specimen seen. The underparts are more intensely colored than in the average specimen. The mastoidal breadth is greater than in any other adult male and amounts to more than the postpalatal length. On available maps the elevation of Miquihuana is given as 1892 meters (about 6200 feet). Thus the dark colors can hardly be ascribed to more tropical conditions than those under which animals from Brownsville, Texas, live. Brownsville is only a few feet above sea level and only 235 miles farther north. The difference noted, therefore, seems to be of geographic significance. However, there is from Alvarez, San Luis Potosí, approximately 115 miles south of Miquihuana, a young (nearly subadult) female, no. 21968, which is as light colored as specimens from Brownsville, Texas, or Tlalpam, México. The only distinctive feature of this specimen is the much greater extent of its white facial markings; they are more extensive even than in the specimen from Miquihuana.
Finally, the series from Brownsville, Texas, indicates that the animal there is smaller thanfrenatafrom the vicinity of México (city). The skull is similarly proportioned except that relative to the basilar length the orbitonasal length is more. Several other measurements of the skull of the adult male from Tlalpam, as pointed out above, are actually, although not relatively, greater than in any specimen from Brownsville. The similarities between specimens from the two localities, Tlalpam and Brownsville, are striking; since the two localities lie at opposite, extreme ends of the range more geographic variation would be expected. All that is known of the characters of populations from intermediate localities is that the one specimen from Alvarez shows no peculiarities whereas the one from Miquihuana suggests the existence there of a geographic variant.
None of the specimens seen shows actual intergradation withM. f. neomexicanaor withM. f. arthuribut it is supposed that frenata intergrades with each of these subspecies. The difference betweenfrenataandarthuriis greater than betweenfrenataandneomexicana. Bailey (1905:198) records tracks of a weasel seen just below El Paso which he supposed had been made by a weasel of theneomexicanatype. He also cited the taking of a weasel at Langtry which suggested to him (op. cit.) ". . . a continuous range from the country offrenatusup the Rio Grande to the type locality ofneomexicanusat Mesilla Valley," New Mexico. Other records of occurrence in Texas cited by Bailey, in addition to those provided by specimens examined by the writer, are San Diego, Beeville, and Port Lavaca. The Port Lavaca record is the easternmost one assigned to the subspeciesfrenata; possibly specimens from there would be referable toarthuri.
The series of thirty-four specimens from Brownsville, Texas, permits measuring the amount of individual and age variation in several features. For instance, the material is sufficient to show that external measurements of subadults and those that fall in the upper part of the category designated as "young" may be included with the measurements of adults, because the mentioned measurements are not appreciably greater in adults. The series of skulls, although not providing more than six of any one age, shows the range of variation in size and proportion of certain parts and enables the student the better to evaluate cranial characters of nearby races known from only a few specimens. For example, not one of the twenty skulls of males from Brownsville and immediate vicinity is as large as either of the two specimens oftexensisfrom Kerr County.
The white facial markings vary much in size and shape. In the series of thirty-four skins from Brownsville the broad white bands in front of the ears are confluent with the white patch between the eyes on both sides in three specimens and on one side only in six other specimens. These bands are confluent with the color of the underparts in all but two specimens. In one specimen the connection is lacking on both sides and in the other on one side only. A white patch between the ears is present in two specimens. The dark spot at each angle of the mouth is absent on both sides in eleven specimens and absent on one side only in ten others.
In six other specimens from parts of Texas north of Brownsville, the broad white bands in front of the ears are confluent with the white patch between the eyes on both sides in one specimen. A white spot between the ears is present in one specimen. The dark spot at each angle of the mouth is absent on both sides in six specimens and on one side only in three other specimens.
In eleven specimens from México, the broad white bands in front of the ears are confluent with the white spot between the eyes on both sides in two specimens and on one side only in one other specimen. The white spot between the ears is present in one specimen. The dark spot at each angle of the mouth is absent on both sides, in six specimens, and on one side only in one other specimen.
Thus, in 51 specimens the broad bands (one in front of each ear) are confluent with the white patch between the eyes in nineteen out of 100 instances, and not with the color of the underparts in three instances. A white spot between the ears is present in four specimens. The dark spot at each angle of the mouth is present 47 out of a possible 98 times.