Part 26

_Characters for ready recognition._--Differs: From _M. f. olivacea_, in males, by width of tympanic bulla which is less than rather than more than 8.5 mm., and in adult females by total length which is less than rather than more than 345 mm. and by mastoid breadth which is less than rather than more than distance between articular faces of exoccipital condyle and glenoid fossa; from _M. f. occisor_ by a number of average differences including smaller size, relatively shorter tail and relatively narrower skull (see measurements); from _M. f. spadix_ by least width of color of underparts amounting to less than 41 per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts, absence of color of underparts on ankles and feet, adults with hind foot less than 50 in males and 40 in females, orbitonasal length less than 15.5 in males and 13.5 in females, length of tooth-rows less than 18.0 in males and 15.7 in females, mastoid breadth less than 25.5 in males and 22.0 in females; from _M. f. primulina_ in males by interorbital breadth averaging more than 24 per cent of basilar length, orbitonasal length averaging more than 34 per cent of basilar length or 64 per cent of mastoid breadth, tympanic bullae less inflated anteromedially, than posteromedially, and in females by orbitonasal length amounting to more than two-thirds of mastoid breadth, by zygomatic breadth averaging less than 21, and by anterolateral margin of tympanic bullae not projecting below squamosal; from _M. f. arthuri_ in males, by zygomatic breadth more than distance between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla and by convex dorsal outline of skull in longitudinal axis.

_Description.--Size._--Male and Female:

======================================================================= | Number | | |Per cent| | LOCALITY | of | Total | Length | of | Length of | | specimens | length | of tail | body- | hind foot | | averaged | | | length | | ----------+------------+-----------+-----------+--------+-------------+ | 8 ad. [M] | 415 | 146 | 54% | 46.0 | Massa- | | (390-432) | (127-159) | | (41.0-48.0) | chusetts +------------+-----------+-----------+--------+-------------+ | 4 ad. [F] | 311 | 104 | 50% | 33.9 | | | (298-321) | (95-114) | | (31.5-37.0) | ----------+------------+-----------+-----------+--------+-------------+ | 10 ad. [M] | 411 | 141 | 52% | 47.1 | Liberty | | (379-438) | (124-155) | | (43.0-51.5) | Hill, +------------+-----------+-----------+--------+-------------+ Conn. | 6 ad. and | 318 | 105 | 49% | 33.0 | | sad. [F] | (303-338) | (80-123) | | (31.7-36.0) | ----------+------------+-----------+-----------+--------+-------------+ | 10 ad. [M] | 407 | 130 | 47% | 46.0 | Beaver | | (372-431) | (113-143) | | (42.0-50.0) | Dam, +------------+-----------+-----------+--------+-------------+ Wisc. | 4 ad. [F] | 326 | 99 | 43% | 35.6 | | | (303-338) | (86-108) | | (34.6-38.0) | ----------+------------+-----------+-----------+--------+-------------+ | 10 ad. [M] | 371 | 130 | 54% | 45.0 | Washtenaw | | (350-405) | (115-140) | | (40.0-50.0) | Co., +------------+-----------+-----------+--------+-------------+ Mich. | 10 ad. [F] | 306 | 97 | 46% | 34.0 | | | (290-335) | (90-120) | | (30.0-40.0) | ----------+------------+-----------+-----------+--------+-------------+

The length of the hind foot averages more than the basal length in males whereas the reverse is true in females. The tail, relative to the length of the body, is longer in males than in females. The average differences in external measurements of the two sexes in Massachusetts, are: total length, 104; length of tail, 42; length of hind foot, 12.1. In Michigan, where the males are smaller, corresponding differences are only, 65, 33, and 11. Weight of 19 adult males from New York (Hamilton, 1933:294), 225 (196-267) grams and in 13 adult females, 102 (72-126) grams. Weights of 2 adults from Michigan are: [M] 258; [F] 101 grams.

_Externals._--Longest facial vibrissae black, brown, or white (often all three colors in same specimen) and extending beyond ear; carpal vibrissae same color as underparts and extending to apical pad of fifth digit; hairiness of foot-soles as shown in figure 19.

_Color._--Upper parts, in summer, Vandyke Brown or darker than tone 4 of Burnt Umber of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 304. Sometimes approaching tone 2 of Warm Sepia of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 305. Underparts, in summer, ranging from white through Napthalene Yellow (Peterboro, N. Y.), Pale Orange Yellow (eastern Mass.), near Primuline Yellow (unusual specimen from Leelanau Co., Mich.) to near (_c_) Deep Chrome (no. 19053, U. S. Nat. Mus., Roan Mts., N. C). In winter, all white except tip of tail, or upper parts near (12" 1) Rood's Brown and tone 2 of Raw Umber of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 301, with underparts white or sometimes tinged with yellowish. Tip of tail at all times black. Upper parts of uniform color except for occasional slight darkening of nose. Color of underparts extends distally on posterior sides of forelegs to foot and sometimes over upper sides of toes and on medial sides of hind limbs only to knees. Least width of color of underparts averaging, in a series of twenty-two males, mostly in full winter pelage, from Liberty Hill, Connecticut, 21 (11-40) per cent of greatest width of color of underparts. In eleven females from the same place, corresponding percentages are 20 (14-29). Black tip of tail in same series of males, most of which are in full winter pelage, 70 (60-75) mm. long; thus longer than hind foot and averaging 50 per cent of length of tail-vertebrae.

_Skull and teeth._--Male (based on ten adults from Massachusetts): See measurements and plates 16-18; weight, 3.6 (3.3-4.4) grams; basilar length, 44.6 (43.3-46.0); zygomatic breadth less than distance between condylar foramen and Ml or than between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; mastoid breadth less than postpalatal length; postorbital breadth more or less than length of upper premolars and greater than width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; interorbital breadth more or less (usually more) than distance between foramen opticum and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum less than length of tympanic bulla; least width of palate less than length of P4; anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 3 to 6 upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla more or less 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; anterior margin of masseteric fossa behind or directly below posterior fourth of m1.

Female (based on five adults from Mass.): See measurements and plates 31-33; weight, 1.7 (1.2-2.1) grams; basilar length, 36.5 (35.2-38.1); zygomatic breadth less than distance between condylar foramen and M1 or than between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; postorbital breadth more or less than length of upper premolars and more than width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; least width of palate more or less (usually less) than greatest length of P4; tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 4 to 5-1/2 upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla less 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 than rostrum.

The skull of the female averages 53 per cent lighter than that of the average male.

Comparisons of the skull with those of _M. f. olivacea_, _M. f. spadix_, _M. f. primulina_, and _M. f. arthuri_, are made in the accounts of those subspecies. As compared with that of _M. f. occisor_ the skull of adult male _noveboracensis_, is of smaller average size with relatively (to basilar length of Hensel) lesser mastoid and zygomatic breadths. In addition to the zygomatic arches of _noveboracensis_ being less widely bowed outward they seem to be more rounded posteriorly. Comparisons of subadult females indicate that these differences exist in the females as well as in the adult males.

_Remarks._--The earliest of the post-Linnaean references to this weasel mostly were under the specific name _erminea_ in the belief that the American animal was the same as the larger of the two common species of weasel in the Old World. The name _noveboracensis_, now in use for this subspecies, was applied in 1840 and since that time the males usually have borne that name; the females, because they are smaller, were more frequently confused with some other species. Audubon and Bachman in 1853 even proposed the name _agilis_ for the female in the mistaken belief that it was a species distinct from the male. After 1896, when Bangs correctly classified the weasels of the eastern United States, the males have been correctly identified and the females, except by a few authors, likewise have been correctly named. Because many early American naturalists did their first collecting of mammals in the geographic range of _noveboracensis_, the person who examines labels of specimens of this subspecies can find data written in the hand of Spencer Fullerton Baird, Theodore Roosevelt, and other naturalists famous for their work as scientists or accomplishments otherwise. The material is more nearly adequate than is that of many other subspecies and the number of specimens is exceeded--and only slightly--by that of the subspecies _nevadensis_, which like _noveboracensis_ has a relatively large geographic range.

Intergradation with _Mustela frenata spadix_ is indicated by subadult males from western Wisconsin, namely, one from Gordon, three from Colfax and one from Meridean. Linear measurements of the teeth of these specimens are exactly intermediate between those of _spadix_ from Elk River, Minnesota, to the west, and _noveboracensis_ from, say, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, to the east. The specimens from western Wisconsin show approach to spadix also in that the length of the tooth-rows and breadth of the rostrum are slightly greater than in _noveboracensis_ from farther east, say, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.

Indeed, animals from as far east as Beaver Dam itself might be thought of as showing some approach to _spadix_. Although, along the eastern seaboard, the upper lips, with rare exceptions, are the same color as the underparts, farther west, in Michigan and Wisconsin, the lips more often than not are white. Animals from Beaver Dam have slightly shorter black tips on the tails, broader extent of the light color of the underparts and females average slightly larger than typical _noveboracensis_, say, those from Massachusetts. Each of these differences reflects characters found better developed in the _spadix-longicauda_ stock to the west.

Toward the southern part of its range where _noveboracensis_ meets _M. f. olivacea_ there is a marked increase in yellowness of the underparts. This coloration of the underparts, since it is not so well marked in the northern part of the range of _noveboracensis_, might be regarded as showing intergradation with _olivacea_ and _primulina_, each of which has far more intensely colored underparts than does _noveboracensis_. Excepting this increase of yellow on the underparts, however, there are few if any characters of _noveboracensis_ which undergo marked change as approach to the range of _olivacea_ is made. Indeed, the characters of _noveboracensis_ remain constant to within a relatively short distance of the geographic range of _olivacea_.

Notwithstanding the state of affairs described above, intergradation seems to take place. Three specimens referred to _noveboracensis_ but which at the same time are regarded as intergrades with _olivacea_ are as follows: No. 28.300, Charleston Museum, from five miles east of York, South Carolina, is an adult female with a badly crushed skull. In external measurements the specimen agrees with _noveboracensis_. The underparts, as regards color and width, are intermediate. The general proportions of the skull and tympanic bullae agree with those of _noveboracensis_ but the skull is larger than in any female of true _noveboracensis_ and approaches that of _olivacea_. The same can be said of a young female, no. 80, Ohio State Museum, from Roswell, Georgia.

Another female, no. 171559, U. S. Nat. Mus., from Lookout Mountain, 1500 ft., Fort Payne, Alabama, is barely subadult. The external measurements are nearer those of _olivacea_. The color and narrowness of the underparts are typical of _noveboracensis_. The proportions and especially size of the skull show approach to _olivacea_, though they are nearer to _noveboracensis_ when all features are taken into account. In the northern part of its range individuals of _noveboracensis_ attain larger size than farther south. This tendency reaches its extreme, in males at least, in _M. f. occisor_ of Maine. Specimens of _noveboracensis_ from the Adirondacks of New York average larger (see cranial measurements on page 418) than those from farther south, and thus approach _occisor_ in size as well as in geographic position. Also, occasional individuals which strongly show characters of _occisor_ are found even farther south than the Adirondacks of New York. This is true of no. 96518, U. S. Nat. Mus., [M] ad., from Lunenburg; Massachusetts. The animal has a large skull of relatively great width much as in _occisor_, although its external measurements, relative length of tail and long, terminal, black brush place it with _noveboracensis_ rather than with _occisor_. Of a pair of specimens from Ossipee, New Hampshire, the male, no. 77108, U. S. Nat. Mus., has a long (175 mm.) tail, and short (60 mm.) black pencil as in _occisor_, although otherwise it is referable to _noveboracensis_. Still another specimen, a subadult male, no. 4193, Mus. Comp. Zoöl., from Upton, Maine, has a longer (51 mm.) hind foot than _noveboracensis_ although it otherwise agrees with that subspecies. As remarked by Bangs (1899:55), other than fully adult specimens from the range of _occisor_ are "troublesome," and would not be selected as distinct from _noveboracensis_ if placed in a series of that subspecies, say, from New York State. In view of the facts that several specimens from intermediate localities combine the characters of _noveboracensis_ and _occisor_, that _noveboracensis_ in the northern part of its range averages larger than it does farther south and thus approaches _occisor_ in size, and that occasional large specimens resembling _occisor_ in several, but not all, features sometimes crop up in the northern part of the range of _noveboracensis_, it appears that _noveboracensis_ and _occisor_ intergrade. Therefore they are treated as two subspecies of the single species, _Mustela frenata_.

Intergradation with _M. f. primulina_ has been commented on in the discussion of that subspecies. Female, no. 159980, U. S. Nat. Mus., from Golconda, Illinois, has many characters of _primulina_ but two young males from there agree better with _noveboracensis_.

Examination of 283 adult and subadult skulls for malformation of the frontal sinuses revealed only ten that were not obviously malformed. Two were from New York, one from Massachusetts, one from Pennsylvania, and six from the 52 specimens from Michigan and Wisconsin. In addition, skulls of many young and even juveniles were malformed.

_Specimens examined._--Total number, 555, arranged alphabetically by states and provinces and, unless otherwise noted, from north to south by counties in each state. Except as otherwise noted specimens are in the United States National Museum.

=Alabama.= _DeKalb County_: Fort Payne, 1.

=Connecticut.= _Litchfield County_: Riverton, 1[5]; Gaylordsville, 1. _Hartford County_: East Hartford, 4 (3[5]); Glastonbury, 2[5]; South Glastonbury, 4[5]. _Windham County_: Plainfield, 2 (1[14]). _Fairfield County_: Greenwich, 2[2]. _New London County_: Liberty Hill, 35 (33[75], 2[7]).

=District of Columbia.= Washington, 3; near Washington, 1; Eastern Branch, 1; Congress Heights, 1; Benning, 1; no definite locality, 1.

=Georgia.= _Towns County_: Young Harris, 1. _Cherokee County_: Canton, 1. _Cobb County_: Roswell, 1[81].

=Indiana.= _St. Joseph County_: Notre Dame, 2[99]. _Porter County_: Hebron, 1. _Miami County_: Denver, 5 (4[75], 1[4]). _Wells County_: Bluffton, 1. _Howard County_: Russiaville, 1. _Jay County_: Salamonia, 1[2]. _Boone County_, 1[2]. _Knox County_: Bicknell, 3.

=Illinois.= _Lake County_: Camp Logan, 3[60]; Fort Sheridan, 1[60]. _Cook County_: W Northfield, 2; Flossmoor, 1[60]; no locality more definite than county, 1. _Du Page County_: Bloomingdale Spg., 1[60]. _Carroll County_: Savanna, 1[87]. _McLean County_: Normal, 1[7]. _Champaign County_: Harwood Township, 1[7]. _Pike County_?: Milton Spring, 1[60]. _Pope County_: Golconda, 3.

=Kentucky.= _Woodford County_: Midway, 1. _Hancock County_: Hawesville, 1.

=Maine.= _Oxford County_: Upton, 1[75]; Bethel, 1[74].

=Maryland.= _Howard County_: Long Corner, 1; Hanover, 1. _Montgomery County_: Gaithersburg, 1; Garret Park, 1; Chevy Chase, 1; Bethesda, 1. _Prince Georges County_: Laurel, 18; Plummer Island, 3; Oxon Hill, 1. _Talbot County_: Easton, 1. _Dorchester County_: Cambridge, 5[40].

=Massachusetts.= _Middlesex County_: Wilmington, 6; Burlington, 6; Lexington, 1[75]; Wayland, 2[75]. _Berkshire County_: New Marlboro, 1[5]. _Worcester County_: Lunenburg, 2; Lancaster, 1[75]; Princeton, 2[75]. _Norfolk County_: So. Weymouth, 1[75]. _Plymouth County_: Wareham, 5[75].

=Michigan.= _Marquette County_: Michigamme, 1. _Charlevoix County_: Thumb Lake, 1[76]; 1/2 mi. N Thumb Lake, 1[76]. _Leelanau County_: Leland, 3[76]; Duck Lake, 2 mi. S Leland, 1[76]; Lost Pond, 8-1/2 mi. S Leland, 1[76]. _Osceola County_: Le Roy, 2[76]. _Huron County_: Rush Lake, 1[76]. _Saginaw County_: East Saginaw, 1. _Oakland County_: Royal Oak, 4[76]; South Lyon, 1[76]. _Livingston County_: Portage Lake, 1[76]. _Washtenaw County_: Portage Lake, 6[76]; Waterloo, 2[14]; Lima, 1[76]; Ann Arbor, 11[76]; 3 mi. E Ann Arbor, 1[76]; 2 mi. SE Ann Arbor, 1[76]; 2 mi. S Ann Arbor, 1[76]; 3 mi. S Ann Arbor, 1[76]; Dixboro, 1[76]; Pittsfield, 3 (2[76]); Saline, 1[76]; near Saline, 2[76]; 1 mi. S Saline, 2[76]; York, 2[76]; Manchester, 2[76]. _Lenawee County_: Morenci, 1[76]. _Cass County_: Marcellus Township, 1[76]. _Berrien County_: Harbert, 1[76]; Warren Wood Preserve, 1[76]; Warren Woods, 1[76].

=New Hampshire.= _Grafton County_: Franconia, 1[2]. _Carroll County_: South Chatham, 4 (3[5]); Ossipee, 2; Intervale, 1[5]. _Merrimack County_: Webster, 2[75].

=New Jersey.= _Morris County_: Morristown, 1. _Essex County_: West Orange, 1[2]. _Mercer County_: Princeton, 1[1]. _Ocean County_: Point Pleasant, 1[2]. _Camden County_: Haddonfield, 1[1]. _Cumberland County_: Millville, 2[74].

=New York.= _St. Lawrence County_: Ogdensburg, 1[74]. _Clinton County_: Rouses Point, 1[80]. _County_?: Adirondacks, 12. _Essex County_: Elizabethtown, 1; Schroon Lake, 1; no locality more definite than county, 1. _Lewis? County_: Locust Grove, 4; Lyons Falls, 1. _Warren County_: Lake George, 6; Caldwell, 1. _Hamilton County_: Beaver Brook, 1/2 mi. above mouth Indian Lake, 1[80]. _Oswego County_: Scriba, 2[74]; Palermo, 1[74]. _Monroe County_: Penfield, 3. _Madison County_: Peterboro, 6 (2[75]). _Schoharie County_: Schoharie, 1[2]. _Rensselaer County_: East Shodack, 1[80]. _Tompkins County_: Taughannock Falls, 2[58]; Ithaca, 4 (3[58]); Glenside, Ithaca, 1[58]; 6 mi. Creek, Ithaca, 1[58]. _Green County_: Lanesville, 1[2]. _Orange County_: Poplopen's Pond, 1[2]; Highland Falls, 1[2]. _Putnam County_, 1[19]. _Westchester County_: Sing Sing, 4; Armonk, 1[2]; Hastings, 3 (2[2], 1[19]). _Nassau County_: Flushing Meadows, 1[2]; Flushing, 1[58]; near Flushing, 1[2]; Oyster Bay, 2. _Long Island_: Cold Spring Harbor, 1; Bridgehampton, 1[2]. _County_ in question: Severance, 3; Lake Grove (Long Island?), 1.

=North Carolina= (east to west by counties). _Wake County_: Raleigh, 4 (1[2], 1[75], 2[76]). _Mitchell County_: Magnetic City, foot of Roan Mountain, 6; Roan Mt., 1; Roan Mt., 6000 ft., 3. _Buncombe County_?: Valley of Black Mts., 1[2]. _Madison County_, 2[11].

=Ohio.= _Trumbull County_: Warren, 1[93]. _Seneca County_: Tiffin, 1[81]. _Summit County_: Ira, 2[81]. _Crawford County_: Galion, 1[81]. _Ashland County_: Loudonville, 1[76]. _Auglaize County_: New Bremen, 3[81]. _Franklin County_: 3 mi. N Columbus, 1[81]; Minerva Park, Columbus, 5[81]. _Fairfield County_: Sec. 32, Pleasant Twp., 1[81]; Lancaster, 1[81]. _Clinton County_: Reesville, 1; 1/2 mi. S and 1/2 mi. W Wilmington, 2[74]. _Pike County_: Waverly, 1[81].

=Ontario.= _Sudbury District_: Metagama, 2[86]. _Carleton County_: Ottawa, 2[77]. _Muskoka County_: Lake of Bays, 1; Bracebridge, 1. _Haliburton County_: Gooderham, 1[60]. _Simcoe County_: Orillia, 4 (2[2], 2[60].) _Prince Edward County_: Bloomfield, 1[77]. _York County_: Toronto, 1[2]. _Waterloo County_: Branchton, 3[60]; Preston, 2[77]; no locality save county, 1[60]. _Welland County_: Ridgway, 1[14]. _Elgin County_: St. Thomas, 1[77]. _Essex County_: Kingsville, 1[77]; Point Pelee, 1[77].

=Pennsylvania= (east to west by counties). _Crawford County_: Pymatuning Swamp, 3-1/2 mi. W Linesville, 1[9]; Meadville, 2[9]. _Beaver County_: Beaver, 1[9]; Raccoon Creek, 1[9]. _Butler County_: Mars, 1[9]; Leasuresville, 4[9]. _Allegheny County_: Allegheny, 1. _Warren County_: Bear Lake, 2[9]. _Westmoreland County_: Kingston, 1[9]; Laughlinstown, 2[9]. _Somerset County_: Confluence, 1[9]; Tub Mill Run, 2 mi. N Springs, 1[9]. _Jefferson County_: Siegel, 1[9]. _Clearfield? County_: Penfield, 1[9]. _Cambria County_: Cresson, 1[9]. _Fulton County_: Well's Tannery, 1[9]. _Clinton County_: near Round Island, 2[1]. _Cumberland County_: Carlisle, 1. _Snyder County_: 5 mi. S Selinsgrove, 1. _Northumberland County_: Pottsgrove, 1. _Union County_: Mifflinburg, 1. _Sullivan County_: Lopez, 7 (4[1], 3[74]). _Chester County_: Westtown, 1[1]; Valley Forge, 1[1]; W Bradford Township, 1[1]; no locality more definite than county, 3. _Philadelphia County_: Holmsburg, 2[1]. _Bucks County_: 1[1]. _Pike County_: Milford, 1.