Part 29

The length of the hind foot averages less than the basal length in both males and females. The tail averages 52 per cent as long as the head and body in males and 51 per cent in females. Average differences in measurements of the two sexes are: Total length, 49; length of tail, 19; length of hind foot, 5. An adult male, no. 41023, and an adult female, no. 41024, each taken in February, 1929, on the Sinkola Plantation, Thomas County, Georgia, weighed 15 ounces (425 grams) and 7 ounces (198 grams) respectively according to Charles O. Handley.

_Externals._--As described in _Mustela frenata noveboracensis_, except that hairiness of foot-soles slightly less than shown in figure 19.

_Color._--Upper parts, in summer, near tone 4 of Burnt Umber of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 304. In winter lighter, between tones 3 and 4 of Raw Umber of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 301. Dark spot at each angle of mouth present or absent. Underparts ranging from Massicot Yellow to Cream Buff except on chin and upper lips which are white. Tip of tail black. Upper parts of uniform color. Color of underparts extends distally on posterior sides of forelegs over antipalmar faces of toes and on medial sides of hind limbs to ankles. Least width of color of underparts averaging, in a series of five males from Talbot Co., Georgia, 29 (extremes 24-34) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail in same series, averaging 65 (extremes 60-70) mm. long, thus longer than hind foot and averaging 43 per cent of length of tail-vertebrae.

The spot at the angle of the mouth is absent in one-third of the specimens examined. The upper lips are white in specimens from the southern part of the range of _olivacea_ but in the northern part of the range of the subspecies the upper lips are dark colored as in _noveboracensis_.

_Skull and teeth._--Male (based on 5 adults from Talbot Co., Georgia): See measurements and plates 16-18; weight, 5.3 (5.0-6.4) grams; basilar length, 48.3 (45.8-50.1); zygomatic breadth more or less (usually less) than distance between condylar foramen and M1 and more or less (usually more) than distance between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; mastoid breadth more or less than (averaging about equal to) postpalatal length; 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; interorbital breadth more or less than (about equal to) 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 greatest length of P4; anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 3 to 5 upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla not 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 (one exception); anterior margin of masseteric fossa below posterior half of m2.

Female (based on 2 adults from Thomas Co., Ga., and one from Talbot Co., Ga.): See measurements and plates 31-33; weight, 3.8 (3.5-4.0) grams; basilar length, 43.4 (42.7-44.0); zygomatic breadth less than distance between condylar foramen and M1 or than between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; postorbital breadth less than length of upper premolars and more or less (usually more) than width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; least width of palate less than greatest length of P4; tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 3 to 4 (including I3) upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla not less (usually 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 than rostrum.

The skull of the female averages 28 per cent lighter than that of the male.

Compared with the skull of _M. f. peninsulae_, of which only one good skull, and that a female, is available, that of _M. f. olivacea_ averages smaller and has relatively and actually smaller and less inflated bullae. As compared with the skull of _M. f. noveboracensis_, that of _olivacea_ in the case of males is larger in every part measured and relative to the basilar length is broader across the zygomatic arches and mastoids. However, the rostrum and interorbital region are relatively narrower. The orbitonasal length is relatively less. The tympanic bullae are broader and more inflated. The same differences hold as between females of _noveboracensis_ and _olivacea_. Indeed, the females of these two races differ more than do the males. Additional, selected differential cranial characters in the females are, in _olivacea_, as follows: Weight averaging 3.8 grams rather than 1.7 grams; braincase with, rather than without, sagittal crest; anterior border of tympanic bulla separated from foramen ovale by breadth of less than, rather than breadth of more than, 4 upper incisors (including I3); height of tympanic bulla not less than, rather than less than, distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; squamosal bone, between anterior margin of tympanic bulla and foramen ovale, ventrally concave rather than ventrally convex. Comparisons of the skulls with those of _M. f. arthuri_ and _M. f. primulina_ are made in the accounts of those subspecies.

_Remarks._--Excepting two young specimens from South Carolina in the Charleston Museum, no specimens of this race of large weasel seem to have been preserved until Arthur H. Howell, in the course of his study of the mammals of Alabama, procured specimens on which his name, _olivacea_, was based. Later, Francis Harper obtained three instructive specimens from Okefinokee Swamp. Really adequate material, for the localities represented, owes its preservation to the alertness of Charles O. Handley, when he resided at Thomasville, Georgia, and to Hallie E. Fuller of Geneva, Talbot Co., Georgia.

The distinctness of _M. f. olivacea_ from _M. f. peninsulae_ is not satisfactorily established due to inadequate material of _peninsulae_. Differences shown by the specimens seen indicate that, as compared with _olivacea_, _peninsulae_ is larger, has transversely wider light-colored underparts which possess more yellow, and a larger skull with more inflated tympanic bullae. In each of these characters, _olivacea_ is intermediate between _noveboracensis_ on the north and _peninsulae_ on the south. The question arises, therefore, whether the animals here recognized under the name _olivacea_ really constitute a recognizable subspecies or instead are only representatives of a subspecies which reaches its extreme development in Florida. In the latter event, the name _peninsulae_ would apply to all. Examination of more material from Florida, especially from the southern half of Florida, will be necessary to answer this question.

This large weasel of the southeastern United States is remarkably different from _noveboracensis_. Indeed, were it not for actual intergrades such as the two from Fort Payne, Alabama, and York, South Carolina, which are described in the account of _M. f. noveboracensis_, and the six specimens from northwestern Alabama, which are referred to _olivacea_, the systematist, I believe, would have little or no hesitancy in designating the two as distinct species, especially on the basis of differences to be seen in the skull.

Not only are the two forms structurally more different than usually is the case but between two geographically, adjacent subspecies of the same species of mammal, but the belt where intergradation occurs appears to be narrow. Nevertheless, when material of the two races is laid out in geographic order, and examined in mass, certain features are seen to undergo gradual change as a person's eye travels from specimens from, say, the center of the range of _noveboracensis_ to specimens from southern localities adjoining the territory occupied by _olivacea_. One of these features subject to gradual change is the color of the underparts. Beginning at the Adirondacks of New York where a large number of the specimens have white underparts, the underparts become more intensely yellowish southward through the range of _noveboracensis_ into that of _olivacea_. Indeed, this progressive trend seems to continue right on southward through the range of _olivacea_ into that of _peninsulae_. Turning in the opposite direction we find that the least width of the underparts decreases gradually northward toward the range of _noveboracensis_. There is, likewise, a decrease to the northward in length of the skull and relative, as well as actual, narrowing of the braincase and tympanic bullae. However, in least width of color of underparts and the mentioned cranial features, the trend stops relatively abruptly at the southern boundary of the geographic range of _noveboracensis_ and does not continue on, northward, into the range of _noveboracensis_ as is the case with the change in intensity of yellowness of the underparts.

Two males, in the United States National Museum, Biological Surveys Collection, from near Leighton, Alabama, no. 178386 from the Tennessee River nine miles north [of Leighton?] and no. 180240 from La Grange Mountain, although clearly referable to _olivacea_ on the basis of cranial characters, show some approach to _noveboracensis_ in lesser size of the skull and agree with _noveboracensis_ in the narrowness of the color of the underparts. Also, these specimens, like others from the northern part of the range of _olivacea_, for instance, no 31.227, Charleston Museum, from Mayesville, South Carolina, have the color of the underparts extended only part way out on the hind limb toward the foot. In specimens of _olivacea_ from the southern part of its range the color of the underparts is extended onto the hind feet and this trend reaches its extreme in _peninsulae_, specimens of which have the feet and larger parts of the limbs marked with the light color of the underparts.

An adult female, no. 32.32, Charleston Museum, although typical of _olivacea_ in most respects, is nevertheless an intergrade. The teeth are as small as in some specimens of _noveboracensis_. The size of the skull is only slightly nearer that of _olivacea_ than it is to that of _noveboracensis_. The proportions of the skull, however, are distinctly those of _olivacea_.

Five other specimens, from northwestern Alabama, namely two from eight miles north of Nauvoo, two from Shoal Creek, and one from White Creek, also show intergradation between _noveboracensis_ and _olivacea_. The remarks concerning color and color pattern of the specimens from Leighton apply equally well to the five from northwestern Alabama. In cranial characters, no. 51658 from Shoal Creek is referable to _olivacea_, as also is no. 51677 from the same place, providing it is a female rather than a male as sexed by the collector. No. 57146 from White Creek also is referable to _olivacea_ although the skull shows some approach to that of _noveboracensis_. Of the two males from near Nauvoo, no. 51652 is to me indistinguishable from _noveboracensis_, but no. 51653 does have some characters of _olivacea_, although on the whole, the latter, too, seems to be a little nearer _noveboracensis_ than _olivacea_. However, because the mean of these seven specimens from northwestern Alabama is nearer _olivacea_ than _noveboracensis_ the former name may be applied.

Another specimen from "Souinlonie" Creek, Clark County, Mississippi, has the coloration and rostral configuration of _primulina_, narrow mastoidal breadth and smaller teeth of _noveboracensis_ and skull of large size with "full" braincase as in _olivacea_. No. 235364, U. S. Nat. Mus., from the Mobile River at the "L. and N. RR. Crossing," Mobile County, Alabama, although definitely _olivacea_, shows approach to _arthuri_ in that the dorsal outline of the skull is longitudinally more convex and the tympanic bullae are less inflated than in _olivacea_ and in that the color of the underparts is almost exactly as in the type specimen of _arthuri_. The young specimen labeled as from "Silver Springs," Florida, has large tympanic bullae (17 mm. long) and several characters that show its relationship to _peninsulae_ as that race is now understood. Because the sex is unknown the identification as _olivacea_ is tentative and is made on the assumption that the specimen is a male. If it is instead a female, the animal is referable to _peninsulae_.

An adult, female specimen in the Charleston Museum, no. 27.239.1, taken at St. Matthews, South Carolina, on December 8, 1927, contained four embryos which averaged 19 mm. in length and 47.75 centigrams in weight. Another adult female, in the Charleston Museum, no. 32.32, taken on February 21, 1932, at the same place, has prominent mammae, and the collector has noted that two were slightly active.

Sixteen of twenty-nine adults examined show infestation of the frontal sinuses by parasites. However, in none is the malformation of the frontal region so great as frequently occurs in _M. f. noveboracensis_.

_Specimens examined._--Total number, 52, arranged alphabetically by states and from north to south by counties in each state. Except as otherwise indicated specimens are in the University of California Museum of Vertebrate Zoölogy.

=Alabama.= _Lawrence County_: White Creek, 1; Little Sand Mt., Shoal Creek, 2. _Winston County_: 7-1/2 mi. N Nauvoo, 1; 8 mi. N Nauvoo, 1. _Lauderdale County_: near Leighton, 9 mi. N Tennessee River, 1[91]. _Colbert County_: Leighton, 1[91]. _Autauga County_: Autaugaville, 1[91]. _Dale County_: Midland City, 1[91]. _Mobile County_: Mobile River, 12 mi. NE Mobile, 1[91].

=Florida.= _Alachua County_: Gainesville, 4[61]. _Marion County_: "Silver Springs," 1.

=Georgia.= _Spalding County_, 1. _Lamar County_, 1. _Talbot County_: southwest part of county, 1; Box Springs, near Geneva, 3; Upatoie Creek, 1 mi. SW Box Springs, 2; 3 mi. SE Geneva, 1; 4 mi. W Geneva, 1; 5 mi. W Geneva, 1; 2 mi. E Geneva, 1. _Chattahoochee County_, 2. _Grady County_: Beachton, 3[91]; locality no more definite than county, 4. _Thomas County_: Sinkola Plantation, 2; locality no more definite than county, 2. _Charlton County_: 1/2 mi. E Chesser's Island, Okefinokee Swamp, 1[58]. _County_ in question: Billy's Island, Okefinokee Swamp, 1[91]; Okefinokee Swamp, 1[58].

=Mississippi.= _Clark County_: Souinlonie Creek, 1.

=South Carolina.= _Darlington County_: Society Hill, 1[91]. _Sumter County_: Mayesville, 1[11]. _Calhoun County_: St. Matthews, 2[11]. _Georgetown County_: Sampit, 1[11]. Charleston County: Rantowles, 1[11]; 8 mi. N Charleston, 1[11]. _Beaufort County_: Yemassee, 1[2].

=Mustela frenata peninsulae= (Rhoads)

Long-tailed Weasel

Plates 16, 17 and 18

_Putorius peninsulae_ Rhoads, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1894:152, June 19, 1894; Bangs, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 10:10, February 25, 1896.

_Mustela peninsulae_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:98, December 31, 1912.

_Mustela p. peninsulae_, Bailey, Bailey Mus. and Library Nat. Hist., 1(no. 5):1, December 1, 1930.

_Mustela frenata peninsulae_, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. 473:105, September 20, 1936.

_Type._--Female, young, part skull and skin; no. 8515, Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia; Hudson's, Pasco County [14 miles north of Tarpon Springs], Florida; before 1895; obtained by W. S. Dickinson.

The skull has been cut vertically in two at the plane of the glenoid fossae. These fossae and all the cranium posterior to them are missing. In addition to the part of the cranium anterior to the glenoid fossae, the lower jaws are preserved complete. The teeth all are present and entire. The prominent sutures on the rostrum and palate show the specimen to be young and its small size leaves but little doubt that the animal was a female. The light facial markings are more extensive than in any of the referred specimens. In the type these light facial markings consist of a median isolated spot immediately in front of the ears, a larger one on the nose, with an interrupted bar on each side extending posteroventrally in front of and anterior to the eye, a wider bar, on each side, extending anterodorsally between the ear and eye and finally an isolated spot at the anterior border of each ear. The skin is stuffed and in fair condition except that the vertebrae remain in the tail.

_Range._--Austral and probably Tropical life-zones of Florida south of latitude 29°. See figure 29 on page 221.

_Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. olivacea_ in coarser pelage and larger tympanic bullae.

_Description._--_Size._--Male: No external measurements available. Female: The type a young animal and no. 2379, an adult from Tarpon Springs, measure respectively as follows: Total length, 375, 378; length of tail, 100, 130; length of hind foot, 40, 44.5.

_Externals._--As described in _Mustela frenata noveboracensis_ except that hairiness of foot-soles as shown in figure 20.

_Color._--Upper parts (in winter) near tone 3 of Burnt Umber of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 304. Dark spot at each angle of mouth present or absent. Tip of tail black. Underparts Reed Yellow except on chin and usually on legs where white. Upper lips white entirely around. Upper parts of uniform color. Color of underparts extends distally on legs over both sides of feet and on front legs over wrists. Proximal part of tail slightly lighter below than above. Least width of color of underparts, in seven specimens, averaging 41 (extremes 31-52) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail, in each of two females, 45 mm. long; thus slightly longer than hind foot and amounting to 36 per cent of length of tail-vertebrae.

The spot at the angle of the mouth is absent in four of the ten specimens and is present on both sides in the other six.

_Skull and teeth._--Male (based on an adult from Apopka and the anterior part of an adult from Enterprise): See measurements and plates 16-18. As described in _Mustela frenata olivacea_ except that: Weight, 7.0 grams; basilar length, 49.8.

Female (based on an adult from Tarpon Springs, Florida): See measurements. As described in _Mustela frenata olivacea_ except that: Weight, 4.7 grams; basilar length, 44.2; zygomatic breadth more than distance between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla.

In comparison with _M. f. olivacea_, the insufficient material of _M. f. peninsulae_ suggests that its skull averages larger and has relatively as well as actually larger and more inflated tympanic bullae.

_Remarks._--The first published mention of this weasel seems to have been the original description which appeared in 1894. This description was based on a single specimen sent to Samuel N. Rhoads by W. S. Dickinson, who, in the following year, procured another specimen at Tarpon Springs. So far as known only eight other specimens, as listed under "_Specimens examined_," have found their way into collections of study specimens.

H. H. Bailey (1930:1) credits the range of this subspecies as extending south "to the shores of Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, where ever high ground occurs."

Evidence of intergradation between _M. f. peninsulae_ and _M. f. olivacea_ is provided by specimens of _olivacea_ from Gainesville, Florida, and the Okefinokee Swamp, Georgia. These specimens, on the average, have the color of the underparts wider, the skull larger, and the tympanic bullae relatively larger than do specimens of _olivacea_ from farther north. In these features, approach to _M. f. peninsulae_ is shown.

Light facial markings occur in this subspecies. They are similar to those possessed by weasels which occur at the same latitude and under corresponding climatic conditions on the Pacific Coast. The type specimen and one from Tarpon Springs have white facial markings. Two of the three specimens from Apopka also show white facial markings, although in reduced amount. One of the four specimens of _M. f. olivacea_ from Gainesville, Florida, has well-developed light (white) facial markings. Also of the four specimens of _M. f. olivacea_ examined from Okefinokee Swamp, Georgia, one has prominent white facial markings. However, in it the pattern is so unusual as to suggest that it is an instance of partial albinism rather than an outcropping of a racial tendency, or a pattern of coloration induced by climatic factors.

None of the eight available skulls show any infestation of the frontal sinuses by parasites.

_Specimens examined._--Total number, 10, arranged by counties from west to east.

=Florida.= _Pasco County_: Hudson's, 1[1]. _Pinellas County_: Tarpon Springs, 1[1]. _Hernando County_, 1[91]. _Polk County_: Auburndale, 1[91]; no locality more definite than county, 1[91]. _Orange County_: Apopka, 3[61]. _Volusia County_: Enterprise, 1[60]. _Seminole County_: Osceola, 1[2].

=Mustela frenata spadix= (Bangs)

Long-tailed Weasel

Plates 16, 17, 18, 31, 32 and 33

_Putorius longicauda spadix_ Bangs, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 10:8, February 25, 1896; Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:21, figs. 10, 11, June 30, 1896; Cory, Mamm. Illinois and Wisconsin, p. 374, 1912.

_Mustela longicauda spadix_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:98, December 31, 1912; Bailey, Journ. Mamm., 10:156, May 9, 1929.

_Mustela longicauda_, Johnson, Journ. Mamm., 11:439, November 11, 1930.

_Mustela noveboracensis_, Murie, Journ. Mamm., 16:321, November 15, 1935.

_Mustela frenata spadix_, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. 473:105, November 20, 1936.

_Type._--Male, young, skull and skin; no. 3265/1786, Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist.; Fort Snelling, Hennepin County, Minnesota; June 25, 1889; obtained by Edgar A. Mearns; original no. 812.

The skull is complete although there are fractures on the top of the braincase, on the right side of the braincase and at the middle of the right zygomatic arch. The teeth all are present and entire. The skin, although overstuffed, is complete, well preserved, and in summer pelage.

_Range._--Upper Austral and Transition life-zones of Minnesota, northern and western Iowa, southeastern North Dakota, eastern part of South Dakota, and northeastern Nebraska. See figure 29 on page 221.