In comparison withrichardsonii, the skulls of males averaged smaller in every measurement taken except breadth of rostrum and interorbital breadth which are more, and zygomatic breadth and length of inner lobe of M1 which are approximately the same; skull about 20 per cent lighter; in relation to basilar length, preorbital region longer and broader in every part measured. Female averages larger, in every part measured; 23 per cent heavier; in relation to basilar length, every other measurement more. It is noteworthy that the skull of the male is smaller and the skull of the female larger than inrichardsonii.
Differences fromarcticaare: Size less, in each sex; males about 40 per cent and females 10 per cent lighter; in males, skull more rounded in outline as viewed from above because zygomatic arches arise less abruptly from skull; in males tympanic bullae do not project so far ventrally from squamosal floor of braincase; with these exceptions, skull ofsempleican be said to be a smaller edition of that ofarctica.
Frompolaris,sempleidiffers, cranially, in the same way as fromarctica.
Remarks.—There is a slight increase in size of ermines toward the north which probably is the result of intergradation betweensempleiandarctica. Specimens from the northern part of Baffin Island are larger than those from farther south. Specimens from the mainland west of Southampton Island may owe their smaller (than inarctica) size to intergradation withrichardsoniialmost as much as to intergradation withsemplei.
Degerbøl's nameMustela arctica labiatawas applied to specimens, which to me are indistinguishable from topotypes ofMustela arctica semplei, which latter name has three years priority. Degerbøl (1935:34) states that Malugsitaq, Melville Peninsula, is the type locality. He did not designate a type specimen. Reference to his account (op. cit.:26) shows that he lists five specimens from the type locality, or more precisely as "Malugsitaq, Lyon Inlet. 5 summer skins. ♂ ♂ June-July 1922. P. F., CN. 2262-2266." On labels attached to these specimens, "Lyon Inlet" is replaced with "Melville Peninsula." On July 28, 1937, Degerbøl and I together examined these specimens in his laboratory. Because no. 2262 is first mentioned I regard it as the type. It is a juvenal male, skull and skin, no. 2262 (20.5 1931.8), Univ. Zool. Mus. Copenhagen, obtained in June or July of 1922 by Peter Freuchen whose original number was / s 2324. The specimen is one of 5 males taken at the same locality by the same collector and they bear identical data as to date. They look to be of the same litter for all are roughly of the same size and each retains milk teeth.
Additional females, with external measurements carefully taken, are much needed from Southampton Island, because the available females are insufficient to show the degree of sexual dimorphism. If the meager data available be accepted, the difference in size between the two sexes is less than in other subspecies. My own feeling is that a better sample of females would show the secondary sexual difference in size to be more than available data indicate.
Specimens examined.—Total number, 183, arranged from north to south by islands, or regions attached to the mainland, and from north to south in each region or island. Unless otherwise indicated, specimens are in the Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.Baffin Island.Pond[s] Inlet, 8; (5[77]); Tulukan (sometimes spelled Tulukat), 6; Cape Eglinton, 1[7]; Gifford River, 2; Clyde, 3[86]; head of Cumberland Sound, 1[91]; Pangnirtung, 2[77]; Kingnait Fiord, 1[91]; Kikkulin Island, Cumberland Sound, 1[7]; Blacklead Island, Cumberland Gulf, 1; merely Cumberland Gulf, 1[7]; merely east Baffin Island, 34[7]; Cape Dorset, 2[2]; SW coast of Baffin Island, 1[75].Melville Peninsula.Iglulik, 3; Pingerqalik, 2; Kingadjuaq, Amitsog, 3; Rae Isthmus, 3; Lyons Inlet, 13(9[2]); M[N?] alugsitaq, Lyon Inlet, 5; Itibdjeriang, 2; Repulse Bay, 27 (22[2], 2[19]); Drichetts Cove, Hurd Channel, 1[2]; Gore Bay, 1; Haviland Bay, 1; Cleveland Harbor, Frozen Strait, 1.Southampton Island and adjacent islands.Danish Island, 11; Vansittart Island, 4. Southampton Island: Coral Inlet, 19 (1[77], 18[9]); Prairie Point, 1[9]; Munnimunnek Point, South Bay, 5[9]; Native Point, 1[9]; Ranger Rim, 1[9]; Koodloatok (not found on map), 1[77]; merely Southampton Island, 1[77]; Gore Bay, 1[2]; Fox Channel, 2[2].Mainland to west of Southampton Island.Cape Fullerton, 3 (1[77], 2[2]); Chesterfield Inlet, 4 (1[77], 1[9]); Tavane, 1[77]; N of Wagner Inlet, 1; Eskimo Point, 1[86].
Specimens examined.—Total number, 183, arranged from north to south by islands, or regions attached to the mainland, and from north to south in each region or island. Unless otherwise indicated, specimens are in the Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Baffin Island.Pond[s] Inlet, 8; (5[77]); Tulukan (sometimes spelled Tulukat), 6; Cape Eglinton, 1[7]; Gifford River, 2; Clyde, 3[86]; head of Cumberland Sound, 1[91]; Pangnirtung, 2[77]; Kingnait Fiord, 1[91]; Kikkulin Island, Cumberland Sound, 1[7]; Blacklead Island, Cumberland Gulf, 1; merely Cumberland Gulf, 1[7]; merely east Baffin Island, 34[7]; Cape Dorset, 2[2]; SW coast of Baffin Island, 1[75].
Melville Peninsula.Iglulik, 3; Pingerqalik, 2; Kingadjuaq, Amitsog, 3; Rae Isthmus, 3; Lyons Inlet, 13(9[2]); M[N?] alugsitaq, Lyon Inlet, 5; Itibdjeriang, 2; Repulse Bay, 27 (22[2], 2[19]); Drichetts Cove, Hurd Channel, 1[2]; Gore Bay, 1; Haviland Bay, 1; Cleveland Harbor, Frozen Strait, 1.
Southampton Island and adjacent islands.Danish Island, 11; Vansittart Island, 4. Southampton Island: Coral Inlet, 19 (1[77], 18[9]); Prairie Point, 1[9]; Munnimunnek Point, South Bay, 5[9]; Native Point, 1[9]; Ranger Rim, 1[9]; Koodloatok (not found on map), 1[77]; merely Southampton Island, 1[77]; Gore Bay, 1[2]; Fox Channel, 2[2].
Mainland to west of Southampton Island.Cape Fullerton, 3 (1[77], 2[2]); Chesterfield Inlet, 4 (1[77], 1[9]); Tavane, 1[77]; N of Wagner Inlet, 1; Eskimo Point, 1[86].
Ermine
Plates2,3,4,9,10and11
[Putorius arcticus] subspecieskadiacensisMerriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:16, June 30, 1896.Putorius kadiacensis, Preble, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 12:169, August 10, 1898.Mustela kadiacensis, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:97, December 31, 1912.Mustela erminea kadiacensis, Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:179, July 19, 1945.
[Putorius arcticus] subspecieskadiacensisMerriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:16, June 30, 1896.
Putorius kadiacensis, Preble, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 12:169, August 10, 1898.
Mustela kadiacensis, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:97, December 31, 1912.
Mustela erminea kadiacensis, Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:179, July 19, 1945.
Type.—Male, subadult, skull and skin; no. 65290, U. S. Nat. Mus., Biol. Surv. Coll.; Kodiak Island, Alaska; April 25, 1894; obtained by B. J. Bretherton, original no. 304.The skull lacks the basioccipital, part of the basiphenoid, the occipital region on the right side and the posterior part of the right tympanic bulla. The third, upper, left incisor is missing. Otherwise the teeth all are present and entire.
Type.—Male, subadult, skull and skin; no. 65290, U. S. Nat. Mus., Biol. Surv. Coll.; Kodiak Island, Alaska; April 25, 1894; obtained by B. J. Bretherton, original no. 304.
The skull lacks the basioccipital, part of the basiphenoid, the occipital region on the right side and the posterior part of the right tympanic bulla. The third, upper, left incisor is missing. Otherwise the teeth all are present and entire.
The white, winter skin is only moderately well stuffed but in a good state of preservation. The spring coat is appearing along the back. This coat is visible at only two places unless the hair be parted when the new brown pelage, which is coming in, can be seen all along the midline of the back.Range.—Kodiak Island, Alaska. See figure25on page95.Characters for ready recognition.—Differs fromM. e. arcticain hind foot less than 33 in females and in zygomatic breadth amounting to less, instead of more, than distance between last upper molar and jugular foramen irrespective of sex.Description.—Size.—Male: One adult and 3 subadults yield average and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 341 (318-360); length of tail, 93 (86-102); length of hind foot, 47 (44-49).Female: An adult measures: Total length, 258; length of tail, 70; length of hind foot, 31.Color.—As described inM. e. arctica, except that least width of color of underparts averaging 54 (40-83) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail in 3 males in summer pelage averaging 80 (70-90) mm. which is 85 (69-96) per cent of length of tail-vertebrae.Skull.—Male (based on 2 adults): See measurements and plates2-4. As described inMustela erminea richardsoniiexcept that: Weight 3.1 grams; basilar length, 42.6 (42.1-43.2); length of tooth-rows more than length of tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum measured across lacrimal processes averaging more than a third of basilar length; interorbital breadth more than distance between glenoid fossa and posterior border of external auditory meatus.Female (based on one adult, no. 98042): See measurements and plates9-11. As described inMustela erminea richardsoniiexcept that: Weight, 1.2 grams; basilar length, 33.0; length of tooth-rows more than length of tympanic bulla.
The white, winter skin is only moderately well stuffed but in a good state of preservation. The spring coat is appearing along the back. This coat is visible at only two places unless the hair be parted when the new brown pelage, which is coming in, can be seen all along the midline of the back.
Range.—Kodiak Island, Alaska. See figure25on page95.
Characters for ready recognition.—Differs fromM. e. arcticain hind foot less than 33 in females and in zygomatic breadth amounting to less, instead of more, than distance between last upper molar and jugular foramen irrespective of sex.
Description.—Size.—Male: One adult and 3 subadults yield average and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 341 (318-360); length of tail, 93 (86-102); length of hind foot, 47 (44-49).
Female: An adult measures: Total length, 258; length of tail, 70; length of hind foot, 31.
Color.—As described inM. e. arctica, except that least width of color of underparts averaging 54 (40-83) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail in 3 males in summer pelage averaging 80 (70-90) mm. which is 85 (69-96) per cent of length of tail-vertebrae.
Skull.—Male (based on 2 adults): See measurements and plates2-4. As described inMustela erminea richardsoniiexcept that: Weight 3.1 grams; basilar length, 42.6 (42.1-43.2); length of tooth-rows more than length of tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum measured across lacrimal processes averaging more than a third of basilar length; interorbital breadth more than distance between glenoid fossa and posterior border of external auditory meatus.
Female (based on one adult, no. 98042): See measurements and plates9-11. As described inMustela erminea richardsoniiexcept that: Weight, 1.2 grams; basilar length, 33.0; length of tooth-rows more than length of tympanic bulla.
Comparison witharcticahas been made in the account of that subspecies. Althoughrichardsoniiandkadiacensisare described as having the zygomatic breadth less than the distance between the last upper molar and jugular foramen, the zygomatic breadth is considerably more inkadiacensisthan inrichardsonii; consequently the two dimensions are more nearly equal than inrichardsonii. Except for being slightly narrower, the skull ofkadiacensisis only a slightly smaller edition of that ofarctica.
Remarks.—When naming the weasel from the mainland of Alaska as new, under the namePutorius arcticus, Merriam (1896:16) wrote: "A small form ofarcticusoccurs on Kadiak Island. . . . It is probably worthy of recognition as subspecieskadiacensis." The informality of this description possibly was in part due to the describer's recognition of the fact that the degree of difference betweenarcticusand the insularkadiacensiswas slight. Specimens collected after Merriam proposed the name for the weasel of Kodiak Island show the animal there to be less different fromarcticaof the adjacent mainland than he thought; small size is the most pro nounced distinction ofkadiacensisand Merriam's male type specimen is smaller than any of the five additional males saved from Kodiak Island since that time. Even so the differences fully warrant subspecific recognition, in my opinion, althoughkadiacensisis not a strongly differentiated race. More adult females are needed to ascertain the norm of form and size for that sex. If the one female known is typical, the difference fromarcticais more pronounced in females than in males. The lesser size ofkadiacensiscan hardly be credited entirely to the effect of insularity, for animals from the southern part of the mainland, on Kenai Peninsula for example, are smaller than those from central and northern Alaska and provide evidence of intergradation of a sort betweenkadiacensisandarctica.
Specimens examined.—Total number, 9, all from Kodiak Island, Alaska, and unless otherwise indicated in the U. S. National Museum.Karluk, 1 (Stanford Univ.); Kodiak, 7; Kodiak Island, 1 (Field Mus. Nat. Hist.).
Specimens examined.—Total number, 9, all from Kodiak Island, Alaska, and unless otherwise indicated in the U. S. National Museum.
Karluk, 1 (Stanford Univ.); Kodiak, 7; Kodiak Island, 1 (Field Mus. Nat. Hist.).
Ermine
Plates2,3,4,9,10and11
Mustela richardsoniiBonaparte, Charlesworth's Mag. Nat. Hist., 2:38, 1838.Putorius cicognanii, Baird, Mamm. N. Amer., p. 161, 1858 (part).Putorius richardsonii, Baird, Mamm. N. Amer., p. 164, 1858 (part-Halifax, N. S.).Putorius(Gale)erminea, Coues, Fur-bearing animals, p. 109, 1877 (part).Putorius richardsoni, Bangs, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 10:16, February 25, 1896.Putorius cicognani richardsoni, Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:11, June 30, 1896.Putorius (Arctogale) cicognanii cicognanii, Bangs, Proc. New England Zoöl. Club, 1:18, February 28, 1899.Putorius microtisAllen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 19:563, October 10, 1903. Type from Shesley, British Columbia.Putorius arcticus imperiiBarrett-Hamilton, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 13(ser. 7):392, May, 1904. Type from Fort Simpson, Mackenzie, Canada.Putorius cicognanii richardsoni, Preble, N. Amer. Fauna, 27:231, October 26, 1908.Mustela microtis, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:96, December 31, 1912.Mustela cicognanii mortigenaBangs, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zoöl., 54:511, July, 1913. Type from Bay St. George, Newfoundland.Mustela cicognanii, Sheldon, Journ. Mamm., 13:201, August 9, 1932.Mustela cicognanii richardsonii, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:95, December 31, 1912; Hall, Univ. California Publ. Zoöl., 40:368, November 5, 1934.Mustela cicognanii cicognanii, Hall, Canadian Field-Nat., 52:108, October, 1938.Mustela erminea richardsonii, Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:77, February 27, 1945; Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:180, July 19, 1945.
Mustela richardsoniiBonaparte, Charlesworth's Mag. Nat. Hist., 2:38, 1838.
Putorius cicognanii, Baird, Mamm. N. Amer., p. 161, 1858 (part).
Putorius richardsonii, Baird, Mamm. N. Amer., p. 164, 1858 (part-Halifax, N. S.).
Putorius(Gale)erminea, Coues, Fur-bearing animals, p. 109, 1877 (part).
Putorius richardsoni, Bangs, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 10:16, February 25, 1896.
Putorius cicognani richardsoni, Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:11, June 30, 1896.
Putorius (Arctogale) cicognanii cicognanii, Bangs, Proc. New England Zoöl. Club, 1:18, February 28, 1899.
Putorius microtisAllen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 19:563, October 10, 1903. Type from Shesley, British Columbia.
Putorius arcticus imperiiBarrett-Hamilton, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 13(ser. 7):392, May, 1904. Type from Fort Simpson, Mackenzie, Canada.
Putorius cicognanii richardsoni, Preble, N. Amer. Fauna, 27:231, October 26, 1908.
Mustela microtis, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:96, December 31, 1912.
Mustela cicognanii mortigenaBangs, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zoöl., 54:511, July, 1913. Type from Bay St. George, Newfoundland.
Mustela cicognanii, Sheldon, Journ. Mamm., 13:201, August 9, 1932.
Mustela cicognanii richardsonii, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:95, December 31, 1912; Hall, Univ. California Publ. Zoöl., 40:368, November 5, 1934.
Mustela cicognanii cicognanii, Hall, Canadian Field-Nat., 52:108, October, 1938.
Mustela erminea richardsonii, Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:77, February 27, 1945; Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:180, July 19, 1945.
Type.—Male, age unknown, skin; no. 43.3.3.4, British Museum of Natural History; probably from Fort Franklin, Canada; presented to British Museum on or before March 3, 1843; may be the type.In September, 1937, when I searched in the British Museum for the skull, I found no trace of it nor mention of it in catalogues. The skin is in white, winter pelage, mounted on a pedestal. See under remarks forMustela e. cicognaniifor reasons for and reasons against regarding this specimen as the holotype.Range.—Hudsonian and Canadian life-zones of the greater part of Canada from the Atlantic to the Pacific. See figure25on page95.Characters for ready recognition.—Differs fromM. e. arctica,polaris,sempleiandhaidarum, in both sexes, by proximal two-thirds of under side of tail colored same as upper parts rather than same as underparts, and interorbital breadth less, rather than not less, than distance between glenoid fossa and posterior border of external auditory meatus; fromM. e. bangsi, in that, in both sexes, least width of color of underparts averages two-fifths rather than about a third of greatest width of color of upper parts, and in that skulls of males are a fourth heavier, basilar length averaging more than 40; fromM. e. cicognanii, in both sexes, in that least width of color of underparts averages two-fifths instead of less than a third of greatest width of color of upper parts, in females by 20 per cent heavier skull (1.1 versus 0.92), in males by skull more, rather than less, than 1.9 grams, and basilar length more, instead of less, than 38; fromM. e. invicta, in males, by skull more, instead of less, than 1.9 grams; mastoid breadth more, instead of less, than 19.9 mm.; depth of skull at anterior margin of braincase more, instead of less, than 12.4 mm.; in females, by same measurement of depth more, instead of less, than 10.1, and weight of skull averaging more, instead of less, than one gram; fromM. e. fallendain both sexes upper lips white rather than brown, in males, hind foot more than 41, basilar length more than 38.3, in females hind foot more than 29, basilar length more than 31.4, and breadth of rostrum amounting to less, instead of more, than 30 per cent of basilar length; fromM. e. alascensisin males in that black tip of tail more than 43, total length more than 320, tympanic bullae more than 14 and longer than tooth-row rather than less than 14 mm. and sometimes shorter than tooth-row, females not individually distinguishable.Description.—Size.—Male: Four adults (Fort Franklin, Fort Simpson, Mts. W Fort Nelson, and Govt. Hay Camp, Wood Buffalo Park) yield average and respective measurements as follows: Total length, 331 average (340, 325, 330, 328); length of tail, 93 (102, 91, 93, 87); length of hind foot, 45 (48, 43, 45, 44). Weight of 4 adults from the Belcher Islands is 175 (135-180) grams. Of 10 subadults from Belcher Islands it is 119 (92-137) grams.Female: Three adults from Great Slave Lake (Willow River, Fairchild Point, and Fort Resolution) yield average and respective measurements as follows: Total length, 252 (237, 238, 282); length of tail, 69 (63, 60, 85); length of hind foot, 32 (31, 32, 34). Corresponding, average measurements for three adults from Glacier Lake are 240, 60, 32 and for 3 adults from the Athabasca Delta, 243, 65, 30. Weight of 8 subadults from the Belcher Islands is 69 (64-78) grams. Weight of adults would be more.Color.—Winter pelage all white except tip of tail. Summer pelage with upper parts uniform in color and darker (16n) than Raw Umber, and about tones 3 to 4 of Chocolate of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 343. Underparts Sulphur Yellow, Colonial Buff, or Primrose Yellow, often nearly white on chin and insides of forelegs; color of underparts extends narrowly over upper lips, distally on posterior sides of forelegs onto antipalmar faces of toes and sometimes over most of antipalmar surfaces of forefeet, on medial sides of hind legs to a point between knee and ankle but reappears on antiplantar faces of toes and in some individuals is narrowly continuous onto toes. Least width of color of underparts averaging, in a series of 12 males from the Athabasca Lake Region, 40 (25-54) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail averaging 56 (45-63) mm. in 5 adult males from same region and thus 60 (48-70) per cent of length of tail-vertebrae.Fromarctica,polaris,sempleiandkadiacensis,richardsoniidiffers in: Color darker; ventral side of tail same color as upper parts; light-colored underparts a fifth narrower; black tip of tail by actual measurement a fifth shorter and averaging less than two-thirds rather than more than four-fifths of length of tail-vertebrae. Fromcicognanii,richardsoniidiffers in that the underparts are a fourth wider and in some specimens more brightly colored. The width of the underparts is likewise a fourth more than inbangsi. Ininvictathe underparts are not so brightly colored as in some specimens ofrichardsonii. Fromfallenda,richardsoniidiffers in that the upper parts often are lighter colored, upper lips white rather than colored like upper parts, and underparts as wide again. In comparison withalascensis, the black tip of the tail averages three-fifths rather than a half of length of tail-vertebrae.Skull.—Male (based on 6 adults from 3 miles south of Big Island, Great Slave Lake): See measurements and plates2-4; weight, 2.5 (2.1-2.9) grams; basilar length, 40.9 (39.6-43.7); length of tooth-rows less than length of tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum measured across lacrimal processes less than a third of basilar length; interorbital breadth less than distance between glenoid fossa and posterior border of external auditory meatus; zygomatic breadth less than distance between last upper molar and jugular foramen.Female (based on 4 adults: from Willow River, 1; Fort Resolution, 1; Athabasca Delta, 2; and 2 subadults, one from 3 mi. S Big Island and one from 15 mi. above Smith Landing): See measurements and plates9-11; weight, 1.1 (0.9-1.4) grams; basilar length, 33.1 (31.5-34.2); length of tooth-rows less than length of tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum less than 30 per cent of basilar length; interorbital breadth less than distance between glenoid fossa and posterior border of external auditory meatus; zygomatic breadth less than distance between last upper molar and jugular foramen.The skull of the female averages 56 per cent lighter than that of the male.
Type.—Male, age unknown, skin; no. 43.3.3.4, British Museum of Natural History; probably from Fort Franklin, Canada; presented to British Museum on or before March 3, 1843; may be the type.
In September, 1937, when I searched in the British Museum for the skull, I found no trace of it nor mention of it in catalogues. The skin is in white, winter pelage, mounted on a pedestal. See under remarks forMustela e. cicognaniifor reasons for and reasons against regarding this specimen as the holotype.
Range.—Hudsonian and Canadian life-zones of the greater part of Canada from the Atlantic to the Pacific. See figure25on page95.
Characters for ready recognition.—Differs fromM. e. arctica,polaris,sempleiandhaidarum, in both sexes, by proximal two-thirds of under side of tail colored same as upper parts rather than same as underparts, and interorbital breadth less, rather than not less, than distance between glenoid fossa and posterior border of external auditory meatus; fromM. e. bangsi, in that, in both sexes, least width of color of underparts averages two-fifths rather than about a third of greatest width of color of upper parts, and in that skulls of males are a fourth heavier, basilar length averaging more than 40; fromM. e. cicognanii, in both sexes, in that least width of color of underparts averages two-fifths instead of less than a third of greatest width of color of upper parts, in females by 20 per cent heavier skull (1.1 versus 0.92), in males by skull more, rather than less, than 1.9 grams, and basilar length more, instead of less, than 38; fromM. e. invicta, in males, by skull more, instead of less, than 1.9 grams; mastoid breadth more, instead of less, than 19.9 mm.; depth of skull at anterior margin of braincase more, instead of less, than 12.4 mm.; in females, by same measurement of depth more, instead of less, than 10.1, and weight of skull averaging more, instead of less, than one gram; fromM. e. fallendain both sexes upper lips white rather than brown, in males, hind foot more than 41, basilar length more than 38.3, in females hind foot more than 29, basilar length more than 31.4, and breadth of rostrum amounting to less, instead of more, than 30 per cent of basilar length; fromM. e. alascensisin males in that black tip of tail more than 43, total length more than 320, tympanic bullae more than 14 and longer than tooth-row rather than less than 14 mm. and sometimes shorter than tooth-row, females not individually distinguishable.
Description.—Size.—Male: Four adults (Fort Franklin, Fort Simpson, Mts. W Fort Nelson, and Govt. Hay Camp, Wood Buffalo Park) yield average and respective measurements as follows: Total length, 331 average (340, 325, 330, 328); length of tail, 93 (102, 91, 93, 87); length of hind foot, 45 (48, 43, 45, 44). Weight of 4 adults from the Belcher Islands is 175 (135-180) grams. Of 10 subadults from Belcher Islands it is 119 (92-137) grams.
Female: Three adults from Great Slave Lake (Willow River, Fairchild Point, and Fort Resolution) yield average and respective measurements as follows: Total length, 252 (237, 238, 282); length of tail, 69 (63, 60, 85); length of hind foot, 32 (31, 32, 34). Corresponding, average measurements for three adults from Glacier Lake are 240, 60, 32 and for 3 adults from the Athabasca Delta, 243, 65, 30. Weight of 8 subadults from the Belcher Islands is 69 (64-78) grams. Weight of adults would be more.
Color.—Winter pelage all white except tip of tail. Summer pelage with upper parts uniform in color and darker (16n) than Raw Umber, and about tones 3 to 4 of Chocolate of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 343. Underparts Sulphur Yellow, Colonial Buff, or Primrose Yellow, often nearly white on chin and insides of forelegs; color of underparts extends narrowly over upper lips, distally on posterior sides of forelegs onto antipalmar faces of toes and sometimes over most of antipalmar surfaces of forefeet, on medial sides of hind legs to a point between knee and ankle but reappears on antiplantar faces of toes and in some individuals is narrowly continuous onto toes. Least width of color of underparts averaging, in a series of 12 males from the Athabasca Lake Region, 40 (25-54) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail averaging 56 (45-63) mm. in 5 adult males from same region and thus 60 (48-70) per cent of length of tail-vertebrae.
Fromarctica,polaris,sempleiandkadiacensis,richardsoniidiffers in: Color darker; ventral side of tail same color as upper parts; light-colored underparts a fifth narrower; black tip of tail by actual measurement a fifth shorter and averaging less than two-thirds rather than more than four-fifths of length of tail-vertebrae. Fromcicognanii,richardsoniidiffers in that the underparts are a fourth wider and in some specimens more brightly colored. The width of the underparts is likewise a fourth more than inbangsi. Ininvictathe underparts are not so brightly colored as in some specimens ofrichardsonii. Fromfallenda,richardsoniidiffers in that the upper parts often are lighter colored, upper lips white rather than colored like upper parts, and underparts as wide again. In comparison withalascensis, the black tip of the tail averages three-fifths rather than a half of length of tail-vertebrae.
Skull.—Male (based on 6 adults from 3 miles south of Big Island, Great Slave Lake): See measurements and plates2-4; weight, 2.5 (2.1-2.9) grams; basilar length, 40.9 (39.6-43.7); length of tooth-rows less than length of tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum measured across lacrimal processes less than a third of basilar length; interorbital breadth less than distance between glenoid fossa and posterior border of external auditory meatus; zygomatic breadth less than distance between last upper molar and jugular foramen.
Female (based on 4 adults: from Willow River, 1; Fort Resolution, 1; Athabasca Delta, 2; and 2 subadults, one from 3 mi. S Big Island and one from 15 mi. above Smith Landing): See measurements and plates9-11; weight, 1.1 (0.9-1.4) grams; basilar length, 33.1 (31.5-34.2); length of tooth-rows less than length of tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum less than 30 per cent of basilar length; interorbital breadth less than distance between glenoid fossa and posterior border of external auditory meatus; zygomatic breadth less than distance between last upper molar and jugular foramen.
The skull of the female averages 56 per cent lighter than that of the male.
Comparison of the skull with that ofarctica,polaris,semplei,kadiacensis,haidarum,cicognanii,bangsi,invicta,fallenda, andalascensisis made in the accounts of those subspecies.
Remarks.—M. e. richardsoniihas the most extensive geographic range of any American race oferminea, is centrally located with respect to the other races, is more abundantly represented by study specimens in zoölogical collections than any other race, and is a sort of average for the species as a whole in most structural features. Thereforerichardsoniiis used as a standard of comparison and accordingly is more fully described than any one of the other races each of which by reference torichardsoniiis described in comparative fashion. This comparative description has the virtue of more clearly indicating differences between subspecies and also makes for brevity.
John Richardson, Bernard R. Ross, and names of their companions, as written on the labels of the older specimens recall to the student's mind early explorations of the north country. Edward A. Preble obtained important specimens at several places and in recent years J. Kenneth Doutt and G. G. Goodwin have made the reviser's work easier by preparing specimens in series from areas not previously well represented.
The nomenclatural history of this subspecies begins with references in the literature that identify the animal as the Old World species,Mustela erminea—an identification which the study here reported upon shows to have been correct in the specific, although not in the subspecific, sense. Richardson, for example, in his "Fauna Boreali-Americana" published in 1829 so identified the animal. In 1838, Bonaparte, basing his description on Richardson's account of 1829, proposed the new namerichardsonii. Richardson himself, the following year in the "Zoology of Beechey's Voyage," accepted Bonaparte's name and it has been applied to the animal in the central part of the northern timber-belt of North America ever since, except as authors used the nameMustela ermineain the belief thatrichardsoniiwas not distinct fromerminea.
The north and south boundaries of the range assigned torichardsoniivaried according to the notions of the particular writer who was employing the name. Until Merriam in 1896 namedarcticaas distinct, animals from the far north were generally included under the namerichardsoniialong with populations to which the latter name now is applied. Becauserichardsoniigrades gradually into the smallercicognaniiof more southern occurrence the boundary between the two has been set farther north by one writer and farther south by another, depending probably upon what the writer felt was the halfway point in size. This point of course depended upon the samples selected as typical ofrichardsoniion the north andcicognaniion the south. Because Bangs, in 1896, took as representative ofrichardsoniithe far northern and hence large-sized animals (now separated asM. e. arctica), his halfway point in size between them and the smallcicognaniiof New England naturally fell farther north than it would have had he used as representative ofrichardsoniispecimens from places south of the range ofarctica.
In 1903 J. A. Allen proposed the namePutorius microtisfor a specimen from Shesley, northwestern British Columbia, a place approximately 50 miles northwest of Telegraph Creek. Considering the great disparity in size between this one specimen and the other larger specimens of normal size, from the general region, available to Allen at that time, it is not surprising that he thought two full species were represented. In 1943 when G. G. Goodwin called to my attention two males, as small as the type ofmicrotisand taken by him approximately 300 miles east of Shesley, in the valley between the Musqwa and Prophet rivers, I for a second time examined all available specimens and data with the possibility in mind thatmicrotiswas a species or subspecies distinct fromM. e. richardsonii, but again concluded that only one subspecies was involved because no character except size was found to distinguish the large from the small individuals of a given sex and there are, preserved from northern British Columbia, individuals of intermediate size.Putorius microtisAllen seems to have been based on an individual ofM. e. richardsoniinear the lower limit of size for that subspecies andmicrotisis regarded as a synonym.
Barrett-Hamilton in 1904 named the animal at "Fort Simpson, British Columbia"Putorius arcticus imperii. Preble (1908:232) pointed out that Fort Simpson on the Mackenzie undoubtedly was the place intended, and arrangedimperiias a synonym ofM. e. richardsonii. The type specimen ofimperiiwas stated to have been received from B. M. Ross who is known to have collected specimens, including specimens of this species (now in U. S. Nat. Mus.), at Fort Simpson on the Mackenzie. I know of no Fort Simpson in British Columbia. If, as seems improbable, Port Simpson, British Columbia, was the place that Barrett-Hamilton intended to designate (where so far as I know Ross did not collect), the nameimperiistill would seem to be a synonym ofrichardsoniibecauserichardsoniiseems to be the race of weasel at Port Simpson. In proposing the namePutorius arcticus imperii, Barrett-Hamilton stressed that the weasel, which he was naming, was a subspecies ofP. arcticus, gave characters which applied perfectly torichardsoniibut made no reference torichardsonii. Barrett-Hamilton did not refer torichardsoniipossibly because he relied on Merriam's classification of 1896 whereinrichardsoniiis treated as a species distinct fromarctica. Merriam, it will be remembered, held that slight degree of morphological difference rather than intergradation was the criterion for subspecies. Although I have no record of having examined the type specimen ofimperiiI have but little hesitancy in treating it as a synonym, and would have no hesitancy at all in so doing if the type was certainly known to have been obtained at Fort Simpson on the Mackenzie.
The nameMustela cicognanii mortigenaBangs, 1913, proposed for the ermine of Newfoundland, is placed as a synonym ofrichardsoniionly after repeated, detailed comparisons. In advance of study I supposed that the isolation of the ermine, in Newfoundland, had contributed to its differentiation, which, however, the original describer, Bangs, indicated was slight. Bangs was a careful worker and I am confident that the differences he described really existed between his specimens. Material more nearly adequate than he had from the mainland, shows the males, so far as my measurements and comparisons go, to be in nowise different from those in Newfoundland. Females in Newfoundland may have, on the average, slightly longer hind feet than on the opposite mainland but I am not certain that they do and even if there is a slight difference in this regard as suggested by available data, I think it insufficient basis, alone, for according subspecific status to the insular animal.
The namerichardsoniiwas based by Bonaparte on Richardson's description which in turn was drawn from a specimen taken at Fort Franklin, that thus becomes the type locality. It is fortunate that Preble, in 1903, succeeded in taking specimens there because the place is near the belt of intergradation betweenarcticaandrichardsonii. Of Preble's two adult males (see Preble, 1908:232) I have examined no. 133847, which is in transitional pelage and therefore gives no clue in so far as coloration is concerned, as to affinities witharcticaversusrichardsonii. Specimens in the summer pelage are much to be desired from Fort Franklin. Regardless of what their coloration may be, specimen no. 133847, in external measurements and most certainly in cranial features is of the race to the south and not the race that Merriam namedarctica. Because all specimens from localities to the south of Fort Franklin likewise differ fromarcticaof the barren grounds, considerable additional confidence is felt in allocating the namerichardsoniito the animal which ranges from Fort Franklin southward rather than to the one, here designatedarctica, that occurs to the northward of Fort Franklin.
Although in most structural featuresrichardsoniiis a sort of average for the American races of the species, it is the extreme in high degree of sexual dimorphism. The difference in size between the males and females is greater than in any other race except possiblyM. e. kadiacensisin which so little is known of the female that the difference between the two sexes cannot be accurately judged. It will aid in understanding the high degree of secondary sexual difference inrichardsoniito visualize two kinds of weasels distributed over the northern half of the continent, thinking now of the geographic area in America occupied by the whole speciesMustela ermineaof which the subspeciesrichardsoniiis only a part. One of the two kinds of weasel is the male ermine and the other the female. The decrease in size of the male, as measured by the weight of the skull, is in the ratio of 7 in the north to 2 in the south. This decrease is gradual whereas the corresponding decrease from 3 to 1 in the female is not gradual; half of the decrease in the female occurs in the short north to south distance comprised in the belt of intergradation, along the northern boundary ofrichardsonii, between it andarctica. As a resultrichardsoniiis composed of females with medium sized skulls and males with relatively large skulls, the ratio by weight being approximately 5 to 2. The disproportion in races of ermines both to the north and to the south is less. Actually in the north (arctica) the approximate ratio by weight is 2-1/3:1; inrichardsonii, 2-1/2:1; in the south (muricus), 1-2/5:1. Indicated in still another way inrichardsoniithe skull of the female is 56 per cent lighter than that of the male and the skull of the male is 127 per cent heavier than that of the female. Intergradation with races whose ranges border on that ofrichardsoniiis complete. On the northern boundary of the range ofrichardsoniialong the western shore of Hudsons Bay for perhaps a hundred miles north of Eskimo Point, there are intergrades witharctica. As judged by their lesser size, individuals of this population are influenced by thesemplei-stock. Otherwise, intergradation on the northern boundary, witharctica, is abrupt whereas intergradation at the south, betweenrichardsoniiandcicognanii, is gradual. Intergradation is similarly gradual betweenrichardsoniion the one hand andbangsiandinvictaon the other. By speaking of the intergradation as abrupt, it is intended, in this instance, to indicate that in a relatively narrow belt, between the geographic ranges ofarcticaandrichardsonii, ermines intermediate in color-pattern, shape of skull, and size, bridge the gap between the ermine of the tundra (arctica) and that in the forest belt (richardsonii). It may be added that the degree of difference between the two subspecies just mentioned is approximately twice as much as betweenrichardsoniiandcicognanii. The intergradation betweencicognaniiandrichardsoniiis gradual. By gradual it is meant that the change from one kind to the other is achieved in a wider area where ermines from locality A do not differ appreciably from those taken at, say, locality B, 50 miles farther south, although ermines from A and those from a third locality, C, say, 130 miles south, clearly show differences indicative of geographic variation.
Specimens examined.—Total number, 1035, as follows. Arranged alphabetically by provinces and districts and from north to south in each province or district. Unless otherwise indicated, specimens are in the United States National Museum.Alberta.15 mi. above Smith Landing, 2; Fort Smith, 2 (1[77]); Smith Landing, 2; LaButte, Fitzgerald, 1[77]; Egg Lake, 15 mi. NW Ft. Chippewyan, 4 (2[75]); Lobstick Island, near Ft. Chippewyan, 1; Athabasca Delta, 9 mi. above mouth of main branch, 1; Athabasca Delta, Long Creek, 1 mi. W of main branch, 2; Ft. Chippewyan, 1; Peace Point, 1[75]; 18 mi. below Peace Point, 1; Embarass River, 7 (4[75]); Athabasca River, 1[2]; Ft. McMurray, 1; Athabasca River, Middle Rapid, 2; 60 mi. above Grand Rapids, 1; Boiler Rapid, 1; Entrance, 3[2]; St. Albert, 2.British Columbia.Fort Halket, 1; Shesley, 1[2]; Dorothy Lake, Mts. W of Ft. Nelson, 4000 ft., 3[2]; valley between Musqwa and Prophet rivers, 3800 ft., SW of Ft. Nelson, 2[2]; Sikanni Chief Riv., 1; Telegraph Creek, 7 (6[2]); head of Bad River, 2350 ft., on lake, 1; Six Mile, 5[74]; Tuchodi Lake, 2[2]; Iskoot River, 2[14]; Level Mtn., 1[2]; head of Tatletuey Lake, 12 mi. W Thudade Lake, 2; Robb Lake District, 5[2]; Ft. Grahame, 12 (2[77]); Sustut Mts., on trib. Sustu Riv., 25 mi. SE Thudade Lake, 2; Laurier Pass, 1; Omineca Mts., 1[85]; Point Creek and Clearwater River, 2; Kispiox Valley, 23 mi. N Hazelton, 5[74]; Hazelton, 3[77]; NW arm Tacla Lake, 7; N end Babine Lake, 1; Pt. Simpson, 1; Metlakatla, 1; Stuart Lake, 27; S Fk. Salmon Riv., 1[77]; mouth Salmon Riv., 1[77]; Vanderhoof, 4[77]; Wistaria P. O., near Burns Lake, 1[77]; Kruger Lake, 9[74]; Indianpoint Lake, 23[74]; Quesnel, 1; Ahbau Lake, 3[74]; Isaacs Lake, 6[74]; Beaver Pass, 56[74]; Lightning Creek, 54[74]; LaFontaine, 16[74]; Barkerville, 1[74]; Barkerville District, 34[74]; Swift River, 27[74]; Cunningham Creek, 34[74]; Itcha Mts., 1[31]; Anahim Lake, 1[74]; Chezacut Lake, 8[31]; Kleena Kleene, 18[74]; 158 mi. House (Cariboo on labels), 3[60]; Rivers Inlet, 6 (5[94]; 1[77]); Horse Lake, 4[22]; Kingcome Inlet, 8[77]; Loughborough Inlet, 7[77]; McGillivary Creek, 1; Camel Back, Pemberton Meadows, 1[31]; Arrow Rapids, mainland opposite Stuart Island, 1[77]; Butte Inlet, 9[77]; Green Lake, 1[31]; Mt. Whistler, 1[86]; Alta Lake, 2 (1[31]; 1[21]); Mons, 1[31].Keewatin.Foot of Baker Lake, 1.Labrador.Okak, 3[75]; Nain, 22 (11[75]; 11[60]); Hopedale, 24[75]; Kippokak Bay, 7[75]; Ailik, 1; Makkovik, 26[75]; Labrador, 55° N, 3; Hamilton Inlet, 2[75]; NW River Post, interior Labrador, 5[1]; Cartwright, 5; Paradise, 12; Sandwich Bay (Muddy Bay, 6; North River, 6), 12; Battle Harbor, 1[7]; St. Marys River, 3[7]; Black Bay, 16 (15[75]; 1[76]); Lanceau Loup, 17 (1[75]).Mackenzie.Ft. Franklin, 1[2]; Ft. Rae, 12; Fairchild Point, 6[9]; Fort Simpson, 10 (2[2]); Hot Springs (61°, 125°), 1[2]; Willow River, near Ft. Providence, 1; 35 mi. N Big Island, 7; Big Island, 9; 3 mi. S Big Island, 7; Ft. Resolution, 9; 100 mi. N Ft. Smith, 2; 75 mi. NW Ft. Smith, 1; Ft. Liard, 2; Sucker Creek, 4[77]; Govt. Hay Camp, Wood Buffalo Park, 2[77].Manitoba.Egg Is., Rabbit Point, 1; Ft. Churchill, 1; Ft. York, W Hudsons Bay 57° N, 1[7]; Oxford House, 11; Gypsumville, 1[86]; Lake St. Martin.New Brunswick.Restigouche County: Bird Bait, north Camp, 6 mi. NE Nictau Lake, 2[59]; Red Brook, Tobique River, 1[59].Victoria County: Trousers Lake, 3[2].Glouchester County: Youghall, 1[77]; Miramichi Road, 15 mi. from Bathurst, 13[77].York County: Scotch Lake, 2.Newfoundland.Nicholsville, 3[75]; Bay St. George, 48 (26[75]; 2[7]; 1[9]); Codroy, 9 (7[75]; 2[60]).Nova Scotia.Victoria County: Cape North, 2[77].Inverness County: Fizzleton, 3[77].Richmond County: St. Peters, 1[77].Pictou County: Glengary, 1[4].Guysborough County: East Roman Valley, 5[77].Kings County: Wolfville, 5 (3[74], 2[77]); near Wolfville, 1[77].Halifax County: Hammond Plains, 1.Annapolis County: Annapolis Royal, 1.Digby County: Digby, 3. No locality more definite than Nova Scotia, 3.Ontario.Severn River, 1[77]; R. C. Mission, Yellow Creek, near mouth of Albany, 2[86]; Ft. Albany, 4; Charlton Island, 1; Moose Factory, 10 (7[9]; 3[77]); Abitibi, 1[4].Quebec.Fort Chimo, 10[77]; Ungava Forks, 1; Belcher Islands, Hudsons Bay (Tukarak Island, 29; Eskimo Harbor, 2; Innetalling Island, 1; S tip Gibson Peninsula, 2; Flaherty Island, 1), 35[9]; Cairn Island, Richmond Gulf, 2[9]; Manitounuk Sound, 4[9]; about 15 mi. S Great Whale River, 1[9]; Ft. George, 1[9]; Charlton Island, 1[9]; Waswonaby Post, 1[77]; Mistassinnay Post, 3[77]; Godbout, 36; Mt. Albert, 7 (4[78]; 3[2]); St. Anne River, 1500 ft., 1[77]; Ste. Anne des Monts, 3[2]; "Federal Mine," 1[77]; Berry Mountain Camp, 1[77]; Berry Mountain Brook, 1[2]; Cascapedia River (Middle Camp, 2; Tracadie, 2; Square Forks, 1), 5[2].Saskatchewan.Poplar Point, Athabasca Lake, 1[75]; Fair Point, Athabasca Lake, 1[75]; Emma Lake, 1[74]; Harper Lake, 2[77]; Livelong, 3[55]; Fairholme, 2[74]; Touchwood Hills, 2[7]; Indian Head, 1[86].Yukon.Hoole Canyon, 1; Teslin Lake (30 mi. N of, 1; Lake itself, 1; "near" the lake, 1; Mts. "near," 2; Snowden Mts., 2; Teslin Post, 2; Eagle Bay, 1; Morley Bay, 2; Nisutlin River, 1; Nisutlin Flats, 2; Wolf River, 1; Wolf Lake, 5), 21[77].
Specimens examined.—Total number, 1035, as follows. Arranged alphabetically by provinces and districts and from north to south in each province or district. Unless otherwise indicated, specimens are in the United States National Museum.
Alberta.15 mi. above Smith Landing, 2; Fort Smith, 2 (1[77]); Smith Landing, 2; LaButte, Fitzgerald, 1[77]; Egg Lake, 15 mi. NW Ft. Chippewyan, 4 (2[75]); Lobstick Island, near Ft. Chippewyan, 1; Athabasca Delta, 9 mi. above mouth of main branch, 1; Athabasca Delta, Long Creek, 1 mi. W of main branch, 2; Ft. Chippewyan, 1; Peace Point, 1[75]; 18 mi. below Peace Point, 1; Embarass River, 7 (4[75]); Athabasca River, 1[2]; Ft. McMurray, 1; Athabasca River, Middle Rapid, 2; 60 mi. above Grand Rapids, 1; Boiler Rapid, 1; Entrance, 3[2]; St. Albert, 2.
British Columbia.Fort Halket, 1; Shesley, 1[2]; Dorothy Lake, Mts. W of Ft. Nelson, 4000 ft., 3[2]; valley between Musqwa and Prophet rivers, 3800 ft., SW of Ft. Nelson, 2[2]; Sikanni Chief Riv., 1; Telegraph Creek, 7 (6[2]); head of Bad River, 2350 ft., on lake, 1; Six Mile, 5[74]; Tuchodi Lake, 2[2]; Iskoot River, 2[14]; Level Mtn., 1[2]; head of Tatletuey Lake, 12 mi. W Thudade Lake, 2; Robb Lake District, 5[2]; Ft. Grahame, 12 (2[77]); Sustut Mts., on trib. Sustu Riv., 25 mi. SE Thudade Lake, 2; Laurier Pass, 1; Omineca Mts., 1[85]; Point Creek and Clearwater River, 2; Kispiox Valley, 23 mi. N Hazelton, 5[74]; Hazelton, 3[77]; NW arm Tacla Lake, 7; N end Babine Lake, 1; Pt. Simpson, 1; Metlakatla, 1; Stuart Lake, 27; S Fk. Salmon Riv., 1[77]; mouth Salmon Riv., 1[77]; Vanderhoof, 4[77]; Wistaria P. O., near Burns Lake, 1[77]; Kruger Lake, 9[74]; Indianpoint Lake, 23[74]; Quesnel, 1; Ahbau Lake, 3[74]; Isaacs Lake, 6[74]; Beaver Pass, 56[74]; Lightning Creek, 54[74]; LaFontaine, 16[74]; Barkerville, 1[74]; Barkerville District, 34[74]; Swift River, 27[74]; Cunningham Creek, 34[74]; Itcha Mts., 1[31]; Anahim Lake, 1[74]; Chezacut Lake, 8[31]; Kleena Kleene, 18[74]; 158 mi. House (Cariboo on labels), 3[60]; Rivers Inlet, 6 (5[94]; 1[77]); Horse Lake, 4[22]; Kingcome Inlet, 8[77]; Loughborough Inlet, 7[77]; McGillivary Creek, 1; Camel Back, Pemberton Meadows, 1[31]; Arrow Rapids, mainland opposite Stuart Island, 1[77]; Butte Inlet, 9[77]; Green Lake, 1[31]; Mt. Whistler, 1[86]; Alta Lake, 2 (1[31]; 1[21]); Mons, 1[31].
Keewatin.Foot of Baker Lake, 1.
Labrador.Okak, 3[75]; Nain, 22 (11[75]; 11[60]); Hopedale, 24[75]; Kippokak Bay, 7[75]; Ailik, 1; Makkovik, 26[75]; Labrador, 55° N, 3; Hamilton Inlet, 2[75]; NW River Post, interior Labrador, 5[1]; Cartwright, 5; Paradise, 12; Sandwich Bay (Muddy Bay, 6; North River, 6), 12; Battle Harbor, 1[7]; St. Marys River, 3[7]; Black Bay, 16 (15[75]; 1[76]); Lanceau Loup, 17 (1[75]).
Mackenzie.Ft. Franklin, 1[2]; Ft. Rae, 12; Fairchild Point, 6[9]; Fort Simpson, 10 (2[2]); Hot Springs (61°, 125°), 1[2]; Willow River, near Ft. Providence, 1; 35 mi. N Big Island, 7; Big Island, 9; 3 mi. S Big Island, 7; Ft. Resolution, 9; 100 mi. N Ft. Smith, 2; 75 mi. NW Ft. Smith, 1; Ft. Liard, 2; Sucker Creek, 4[77]; Govt. Hay Camp, Wood Buffalo Park, 2[77].
Manitoba.Egg Is., Rabbit Point, 1; Ft. Churchill, 1; Ft. York, W Hudsons Bay 57° N, 1[7]; Oxford House, 11; Gypsumville, 1[86]; Lake St. Martin.
New Brunswick.Restigouche County: Bird Bait, north Camp, 6 mi. NE Nictau Lake, 2[59]; Red Brook, Tobique River, 1[59].Victoria County: Trousers Lake, 3[2].Glouchester County: Youghall, 1[77]; Miramichi Road, 15 mi. from Bathurst, 13[77].York County: Scotch Lake, 2.
Newfoundland.Nicholsville, 3[75]; Bay St. George, 48 (26[75]; 2[7]; 1[9]); Codroy, 9 (7[75]; 2[60]).
Nova Scotia.Victoria County: Cape North, 2[77].Inverness County: Fizzleton, 3[77].Richmond County: St. Peters, 1[77].Pictou County: Glengary, 1[4].Guysborough County: East Roman Valley, 5[77].Kings County: Wolfville, 5 (3[74], 2[77]); near Wolfville, 1[77].Halifax County: Hammond Plains, 1.Annapolis County: Annapolis Royal, 1.Digby County: Digby, 3. No locality more definite than Nova Scotia, 3.
Ontario.Severn River, 1[77]; R. C. Mission, Yellow Creek, near mouth of Albany, 2[86]; Ft. Albany, 4; Charlton Island, 1; Moose Factory, 10 (7[9]; 3[77]); Abitibi, 1[4].
Quebec.Fort Chimo, 10[77]; Ungava Forks, 1; Belcher Islands, Hudsons Bay (Tukarak Island, 29; Eskimo Harbor, 2; Innetalling Island, 1; S tip Gibson Peninsula, 2; Flaherty Island, 1), 35[9]; Cairn Island, Richmond Gulf, 2[9]; Manitounuk Sound, 4[9]; about 15 mi. S Great Whale River, 1[9]; Ft. George, 1[9]; Charlton Island, 1[9]; Waswonaby Post, 1[77]; Mistassinnay Post, 3[77]; Godbout, 36; Mt. Albert, 7 (4[78]; 3[2]); St. Anne River, 1500 ft., 1[77]; Ste. Anne des Monts, 3[2]; "Federal Mine," 1[77]; Berry Mountain Camp, 1[77]; Berry Mountain Brook, 1[2]; Cascapedia River (Middle Camp, 2; Tracadie, 2; Square Forks, 1), 5[2].
Saskatchewan.Poplar Point, Athabasca Lake, 1[75]; Fair Point, Athabasca Lake, 1[75]; Emma Lake, 1[74]; Harper Lake, 2[77]; Livelong, 3[55]; Fairholme, 2[74]; Touchwood Hills, 2[7]; Indian Head, 1[86].
Yukon.Hoole Canyon, 1; Teslin Lake (30 mi. N of, 1; Lake itself, 1; "near" the lake, 1; Mts. "near," 2; Snowden Mts., 2; Teslin Post, 2; Eagle Bay, 1; Morley Bay, 2; Nisutlin River, 1; Nisutlin Flats, 2; Wolf River, 1; Wolf Lake, 5), 21[77].
Ermine
Plates2,3,4,9,10and11
Mustela cigognanii[sic.] Bonaparte, Charlesworth's Mag. Nat. Hist., 2:37, 1838.Putorius vulgaris, Emmons, Quadrupeds of Massachusetts, p. 44, 1840.Mustela pusillaDeKay, Zool. of New York, Pt. 1, Mammalia, p. 34, pl. 14, fig. 1, 1842. Type from New York State.Putorius pusillus, Audubon and Bachman, Vivip. Quadrupeds of N. Amer., 2:100, pl. 64, 1851 (pl. 1846) and erroneously labeledMustela fusea, as pointed out on page102of text.Putorius cicognanii, Baird, Mamm. N. Amer., p. 161, 1858.Putorius richardsoni cicognani, Bangs, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 10; 18, figs. 4, 4a of pls. 1 and 2, and pl. 3, figs. 2, 2a, February 25, 1896 (part).Putorius cicognani, Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:10, pl. 2, figs. 3, 3a, 4, 4a and pl. 5, figs. 2, 2a, June 30, 1896.Mustela cicognanii cicognanii, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:95, December 31, 1912; Bishop, Journ. Mamm., 4:26, February 9, 1923.Mustela cicognanii, Jackson, Journ. Mamm., 3:15, February 8, 1922.Mustela erminea cicognanii, Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:77, February 27, 1945; Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:180, July 19, 1945.
Mustela cigognanii[sic.] Bonaparte, Charlesworth's Mag. Nat. Hist., 2:37, 1838.
Putorius vulgaris, Emmons, Quadrupeds of Massachusetts, p. 44, 1840.
Mustela pusillaDeKay, Zool. of New York, Pt. 1, Mammalia, p. 34, pl. 14, fig. 1, 1842. Type from New York State.
Putorius pusillus, Audubon and Bachman, Vivip. Quadrupeds of N. Amer., 2:100, pl. 64, 1851 (pl. 1846) and erroneously labeledMustela fusea, as pointed out on page102of text.
Putorius cicognanii, Baird, Mamm. N. Amer., p. 161, 1858.
Putorius richardsoni cicognani, Bangs, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 10; 18, figs. 4, 4a of pls. 1 and 2, and pl. 3, figs. 2, 2a, February 25, 1896 (part).
Putorius cicognani, Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:10, pl. 2, figs. 3, 3a, 4, 4a and pl. 5, figs. 2, 2a, June 30, 1896.
Mustela cicognanii cicognanii, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:95, December 31, 1912; Bishop, Journ. Mamm., 4:26, February 9, 1923.
Mustela cicognanii, Jackson, Journ. Mamm., 3:15, February 8, 1922.
Mustela erminea cicognanii, Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:77, February 27, 1945; Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:180, July 19, 1945.
Type.—No type specimen designated; type locality, eastern United States.The restriction of the type locality from the general region of northeastern North America, as given by Merriam (1896:10) to the less inclusive area of the eastern United States as earlier given by Bangs (1896:18) is supported by Bonaparte's remarks in connection with the proposal of the namecicognanii. He says (1838:37-38) "During my stay in the United States, I only saw a small species ofMustela, very common throughout the Union . . . ." This animal constituted basis for the namecicognaniiwhich name, he points out, is bestowed in order that the Americans ". . . should have constantly under their eye, this very common little animal, as the perpetual memorial . . ." to the Italian Governmental representative ". . . who, for upwards of fourteen years had served, in diplomatic and commercial concerns, . . . two countries, . . . so different . . . as the Roman and the United States. . . ." Clearly he had in mind principally, if not exclusively, the animal of the United States.Range.—Transition and higher life-zones of northeastern United States south to Connecticut, central Pennsylvania and extreme northeastern Ohio; in Quebec and Ontario westward from the latitude of central Maine to Lake Nipigon and Lake of the Woods. See figure25on page95.Characters for ready recognition.—Differs fromM. e. richardsoniiof both sexes, in that least width of color of underparts averages less than a third rather than two-fifths of greatest width of color of upper parts, in males skull less, instead of more, than 1.9 grams and basilar length less than 38, in females by 16 per cent lighter skull (0.92 versus 1.1 grams); fromM. e. bangsi, in males hind foot less instead of more than 40, linear measurements of skull averaging 11 per cent less (depth of skull at plane of molars 10.0 versus 11.4), in females averaging smaller, hind foot 30 versus 32 and depth of skull at plane of molars 8.6 versus 9.1.Description.—Size.—Male. Seven adults and subadults from New York and Pennsylvania, yield average and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 266 (240-295); length of tail, 74 (66-80); length of hind foot, 36 (33-39). Hamilton (1933:294) gives the weight of 31 adults from New York as 81 (66-105) grams.Female: Twelve adults and subadults from Maine and the area south to central Pennsylvania, yield average and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 243 (225-260); length of tail, 63 (55-72); length of hind foot, 29.8 (26-32). Hamilton (1933:294) gives the weight of 15 adults from New York as 54 (45-71) grams.Color.—As described inMustela erminea richardsoniiexcept that underparts in summer Marguerite Yellow or even more whitish; least width of color of underparts averaging, in adult males from New York and Pennsylvania, 29 (27-32) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail in same series averaging 42 (30-51) mm. which is 57 per cent of length of tail-vertebrae.Skull.—Male (illustrated by 4 adults in table of cranial measurements, which see): See plates2-4. As described inMustela erminea richardsoniiexcept that: Weight, 1.5 (1.2-1.7) grams; basilar length, 35.7 (33.8-37.6).Female (illustrated by adult and subadults recorded in table of cranial measurements, which see): See plates9-11. As described inMustela erminea richardsoniiexcept that: Weight of 2 subadults, 0.92 (0.86-0.98) grams; basilar length, 32.4 (31.4-33.3).
Type.—No type specimen designated; type locality, eastern United States.
The restriction of the type locality from the general region of northeastern North America, as given by Merriam (1896:10) to the less inclusive area of the eastern United States as earlier given by Bangs (1896:18) is supported by Bonaparte's remarks in connection with the proposal of the namecicognanii. He says (1838:37-38) "During my stay in the United States, I only saw a small species ofMustela, very common throughout the Union . . . ." This animal constituted basis for the namecicognaniiwhich name, he points out, is bestowed in order that the Americans ". . . should have constantly under their eye, this very common little animal, as the perpetual memorial . . ." to the Italian Governmental representative ". . . who, for upwards of fourteen years had served, in diplomatic and commercial concerns, . . . two countries, . . . so different . . . as the Roman and the United States. . . ." Clearly he had in mind principally, if not exclusively, the animal of the United States.
Range.—Transition and higher life-zones of northeastern United States south to Connecticut, central Pennsylvania and extreme northeastern Ohio; in Quebec and Ontario westward from the latitude of central Maine to Lake Nipigon and Lake of the Woods. See figure25on page95.
Characters for ready recognition.—Differs fromM. e. richardsoniiof both sexes, in that least width of color of underparts averages less than a third rather than two-fifths of greatest width of color of upper parts, in males skull less, instead of more, than 1.9 grams and basilar length less than 38, in females by 16 per cent lighter skull (0.92 versus 1.1 grams); fromM. e. bangsi, in males hind foot less instead of more than 40, linear measurements of skull averaging 11 per cent less (depth of skull at plane of molars 10.0 versus 11.4), in females averaging smaller, hind foot 30 versus 32 and depth of skull at plane of molars 8.6 versus 9.1.
Description.—Size.—Male. Seven adults and subadults from New York and Pennsylvania, yield average and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 266 (240-295); length of tail, 74 (66-80); length of hind foot, 36 (33-39). Hamilton (1933:294) gives the weight of 31 adults from New York as 81 (66-105) grams.
Female: Twelve adults and subadults from Maine and the area south to central Pennsylvania, yield average and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 243 (225-260); length of tail, 63 (55-72); length of hind foot, 29.8 (26-32). Hamilton (1933:294) gives the weight of 15 adults from New York as 54 (45-71) grams.
Color.—As described inMustela erminea richardsoniiexcept that underparts in summer Marguerite Yellow or even more whitish; least width of color of underparts averaging, in adult males from New York and Pennsylvania, 29 (27-32) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail in same series averaging 42 (30-51) mm. which is 57 per cent of length of tail-vertebrae.
Skull.—Male (illustrated by 4 adults in table of cranial measurements, which see): See plates2-4. As described inMustela erminea richardsoniiexcept that: Weight, 1.5 (1.2-1.7) grams; basilar length, 35.7 (33.8-37.6).
Female (illustrated by adult and subadults recorded in table of cranial measurements, which see): See plates9-11. As described inMustela erminea richardsoniiexcept that: Weight of 2 subadults, 0.92 (0.86-0.98) grams; basilar length, 32.4 (31.4-33.3).