Part 37

_Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. altifrontalis_ in presence of frontonasal white patch, lighter color above (tone 2 to 3 of Raw Umber, pl. 301, rather than tone 4 of Brownish Drab, pl. 302, Oberthür and Dauthenay), wider extent of light color of underparts which is extended distally beyond knee, and in females, longer tooth-row which amounts to more than 38 per cent of basilar length; from _M. f. munda_ in shorter hind foot of males which is less than 50, and in both sexes, smaller, less rugose skull (see measurements and plates); from _M. f. saturata_ in presence of frontonasal white patch, in having color of underparts extended uninterruptedly over ankle onto foot; from _M. f. nevadensis_ in presence of frontonasal white patch, lack of light color of underparts on ventral face of tail, and longer skull, which relative to its length in males, is shallower through braincase; from _M. f. effera_ in presence of frontonasal white patch, lack of light color of underparts on ventral face of tail, and larger skull with basilar length averaging more than 41.7 in males; from _M. f. washingtoni_ in presence of frontonasal white patch, shorter skull in males, which in percentage of basilar length has, on the average, orbitonasal length amounting to less than 35, mastoid breadth more than 55, and zygomatic breadth more than 63; and in females larger skull with least width of palate more than length of P4, upper tooth-rows more than 38-1/2 per cent of basilar length, bullae larger and averaging more than 13.4 long.

_Description._--_Size._--Male: Five males (3 adults and 2 subadults from Eureka, Ferndale, and Carlotta, California) yield average and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 392 (347-430); length of tail, 138 (110-160); length of hind foot, 46 (43-50). Tail averages 54 (46-61) per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind foot more or less than basal length. The type specimen, and an adult from Goldbeach measure, respectively, as follows: Total length, 412, 386; length of tail, 155, 137; length of hind foot, 44, 46.

Female: Three adults (2 from Fortuna and 1 from Carlotta, California) yield average and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 367 (360-374); length of tail, 130 (123-134); length of hind foot, 40 (39-40). Tail averages 55 (52-57) per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind foot less than basal length. A subadult from Goldbeach, an adult from 13 mi. SW Grants Pass, and an adult from Medford, measure, respectively, as follows: Total length, 316, 344, 294; length of tail, 114, 120, 122; length of hind foot, 36, 40, 38.

The average differences in external measurements of the two sexes in the vicinity of Carlotta, are: Total length, 25; length of tail, 8; length of hind foot, 6. Corresponding differences, at Goldbeach, are: 70, 23, 10. Probably the females at Fortuna reflect the large size of _munda_ more than do the males at Carlotta and the differences between the measurements of the two sexes probably, therefore, are actually more than are indicated by the figures above.

_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, in summer pelage, as shown in figure 20.

_Color._--Upper parts, in summer, near (16 _l_) Brussels Brown or tone 2 of Raw Umber of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 301, to slightly darker than tone 3 of same plate. Darker on nose and top of head, usually with frontonasal white patch but lacking white bar in front of each ear, except in the type and 2 specimens from Salem. Chin, lower lips, angle of mouth, and usually posterior seventh of upper lip white. Remainder of underparts Pale Orange-Yellow. In winter usually lighter above with underparts Warm Buff to Straw Yellow. Tip of tail at all times black. Color of underparts extends distally on posterior sides of forelegs over toes onto antipalmar faces of feet and wrists, on medial side of hind leg, typically over ankle in extremely narrow line which widens out over distal phalanges of antiplantar faces of toes but sometimes interrupted at ankle. Least width of color of underparts averaging, in twenty available specimens, 39 (27-54) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail in five adults averaging 50 (43-60) mm. long; thus averaging longer than hind foot and 33 per cent of length of tail-vertebrae.

_Skull and teeth._--Male (based on 4 adults and subadults from Eureka, Requa, Goldbeach, and Grant Pass): See measurements and plates 19-21, 30. As described in _Mustela frenata nevadensis_ except that: Weight, 3.5 (3.5-4.1) grams; basilar length, 42.9 (41.8-44.0); least width of palate more or less than medial length of P4.

Female (based on 2 adults, one from Carlotta and one from 13 mi. SW Grants Pass): See measurements and plates 34-36. As described in _Mustela frenata nevadensis_ except that: Weight, 2.4 (2.2-2.6) grams; basilar length, 37.7 and 39.5; zygomatic breadth less than distance between condylar foramen and M1 and less than distance between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla. See under "_Remarks_" for additional data on variation in size of skulls of females.

The skulls of the female averages 31 per cent lighter than that of the average male.

Because there is much geographic variation between specimens here referred to _oregonensis_, the person who is guided by the present account should keep in mind that results, here reported, of comparisons of the skull with those of other races, were obtained by employing specimens of _oregonensis_ from Carlotta and Eureka, California. These specimens from California are judged to have more of the characters of the subspecies _munda_ than do specimens of _oregonensis_ from more northern localities.

Compared with that of _M. f. washingtoni_ the skull of the male is shorter, especially in the preorbital region and is relatively broader across the mastoidal processes and zygomatic arches. The skull of the female is longer in the preorbital region, has a less cylindrical braincase and differs less from the male skull than is the case in _M. f. washingtoni_. Compared with _M. f. effera_, the skull of the male is smaller in every part measured and relative to the basilar length is broader across the mastoids and has relatively shorter tympanic bullae. From _M. f. nevadensis_ the skull of the male differs in the same way except that size is about the same. The skull of the female _oregonensis_ is more heavily ridged and is relatively broader across the mastoids than that of _effera_. From _M. f. saturata_, _oregonensis_ is not surely known to differ in cranial characters. From _M. f. munda_, _oregonensis_ differs in having the skull of both sexes smaller, and on the average, in all parts measured, has a less marked postorbital constriction, relatively narrower interorbital region and relatively more expanded zygomata. From _M. f. altifrontalis_, males of _oregonensis_ differ on the average, in having larger teeth, and relative to the basilar length, a greater mastoid breadth and a shallower braincase as measured at the anterior margin of the basioccipital. Females of _oregonensis_ differ in larger average size of skull, except for breadth of rostrum and interorbital breadth which, therefore, are relatively less in _oregonensis_, as also is the relative depth of the skull measured at the posterior borders of the upper molars and at the anterior margin of the basioccipital. However, skulls of females of _oregonensis_ have relatively longer tooth-rows and are relatively broader across the zygomata and mastoidal processes.

_Remarks._--In 1896, Merriam named _oregonensis_ as a subspecies of the California bridled weasel on the basis of a single specimen taken by Clark P. Streator. Three additional specimens were acquired in later years, by workers of Dr. Merriam's bureau, from near the type locality and specimens from farther north in Oregon have been accumulated at the University of Oregon. The most satisfactory material is that saved from Humboldt County by the late H. E. Wilder, which, when brought together, is adequate to give some idea of the range of variation that can be expected in a given population.

Of two specimens from Goldbeach, one shows approach to _altifrontalis_ in that the color of the underparts stops at the ankle, and in one, the angle of the mouth is dark colored. Specimens from Eugene and vicinity lack the white facial markings, and in this feature approach the adjoining _washingtoni-effera-nevadensis_ stock. A specimen from 6 miles south of Medford shows approach to _saturata_ in the interruption, on the ankle and lower tibial region, of the color of the underparts. One adult female, no. 1413, Univ. Oregon, from the Rogue River Valley, 13 miles southwest of Grants Pass, stands out prominently, among the other specimens from extreme southern Oregon and northwestern California, by reason of the near (18) Apricot Yellow color of the underparts, but this same color occurs in specimens from the more northerly localities of Buchanan, Eugene, Vida Fish Hatchery, and McKenzie Bridge, as well as in no. 2178, Univ. Oregon, from Cresent Lake. The last mentioned specimen is here referred to _nevadensis_.

Two females referred to _oregonensis_ from southern Oregon differ so greatly in size of skull that they challenge one's imagination in any attempt to provide an explanation for so wide a range of variation in one subspecies. One of these, no. 244520, U. S. Nat. Mus., is an adult female from Medford. The other, no. 224034, U. S. Nat. Mus., is a subadult female (though labeled male) from 43 miles northeast of Grants Pass. The skull of the adult from Medford has a basilar length of 41.5, upper tooth-rows, 16.1 in length, and a weight of 2.75 grams, whereas corresponding figures for the subadult are only 33.8, 12.9, and 1.4. Two other adult females are intermediate in size: No. 1413, Univ. Oregon, from 13 miles southwest of Grants Pass, Oregon, approaches the specimen from Medford in size, and the second specimen, no. 34325, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., from Carlotta, California, is smaller.

Not only is there a difference in length between the skulls of the two extremes of the females but this difference extends to all other dimensions of their skulls, and is most pronounced in the preorbital region. The differences in breadth of the braincase and other parts of the skull are relatively less than the differences in length. Differences of the same nature, although of lesser degree than found in the females, are to be seen in two males. The skull of an adult no. 51590, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., from 6 miles south of Medford, has a basilar length of 46.4, upper tooth-rows, 17.6 mm. long, and a weight of 4.0 grams, whereas corresponding figures for the subadult type specimen from Grants Pass, are only 43.0, 16.2, and 3.3.

The wide range of variation in size of skull of both sexes, together with the considerable variation in color pattern of the specimens here referred to _oregonensis_ raises the suspicion that we are using the name in a composite sense; nevertheless, to recognize more than one subspecies with the material now available would be unwise.

A subadult female, of abnormal color, no. 47149, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., taken by Mr. H. E. Wilder at Carlotta, California, on December 20, 1930, in a region where weasels do not turn white in winter, is white, except for the black tip of the tail, but has a suffusion of orange. This specimen, discussed at greater length on page 43, is instructive in that it suggests that there are separate determiners for the brown and red elements of the pelage. It is interesting also as suggesting how natural selection may tend to eliminate from the population a conspicuous color-variation of this kind. At any rate, Mr. Wilder (Ms.) states: "This specimen was picked up in a field, where it evidently had been dropped by a hawk or an owl." The braincase of the skull is crushed in three places as though by a raptor's beak. None of the several other weasels, all normally colored, saved by Mr. Wilder from this general locality gives evidence of having fallen a victim to a raptor.

Only 2 skulls of the 12 adults and subadults examined show malformation of the frontal sinuses such as results from the presence of parasites.

_Specimens examined._--Total number, 29, arranged within states from north to south by counties. Unless otherwise indicated specimens are in the collection of the United States National Museum.

=California.= _Del Norte County_: Requa, 1[8]. _Humholdt County_: Eureka, 2 (1[74], 1[75]); Ferndale, 1[74]; Fortuna, 2[63]; Carlotta, 6 (3[74], 3[59]); 12 mi. E Bridgeville, 1[59]; 2 mi. W Bridgeville, 1[59].

=Oregon.= _Washington County_: Forest Grove, 1. _Marion County_: Salem, 2. _Benton County_: Buchanan, 1. _Lane County_: McKenzie Bridge, 1[101]; Vida Fish Hatchery, 1[101]; Eugene, 1[101]. _Douglas County_: Anchor, 1. _Curry County_: Gold Beach, 2[60]. _Josephine County_: Rogue River Valley (Grants Pass), 1; 13 mi. SW Grants Pass, 1[101]. _Jackson County_: Medford, 2; 6 mi. S Medford, 1[74].

=Mustela frenata munda= (Bangs)

Long-tailed Weasel

Plates 1, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 30, 34, 35, 36 and 40

_Putorius xanthogenys mundus_ Bangs, Proc. New England Zoöl. Club, 1:56, June 9, 1899; Stephens, California mammals, p. 247, 1906.

_Mustela frenata_, Audubon and Bachman, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 8 (Pt. 2):291, 1842 (North California about 40° latitude).

_Mustela xanthogenys munda_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:99, December 31, 1912.

_Mustela frenata munda_, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. 473:107, November 20, 1936.

_Type._--Male, adult, skull, os penis and skin; no. 5459, collection of E. A. and O. Bangs, but now in collection of Mus. Comp. Zoöl.; Point Reyes, Marin County, California; June 19, 1896; obtained by C. A. Allen; original no. 931. (See comments under "Remarks," below, on places in California to which the name Point Reyes has been applied.)

The skull (pls. 19-21, 30) is complete and unbroken. I1 on each side and right I2 are broken away; p2 and p3 on each side have been aborted and the only alveoli remaining are two for the right p3. Otherwise all teeth are present and entire. The skin is fairly well made and in good condition.

Cranially, the type is a "runt"; its small size and the circumstance that the tympanic bulla is longer than the lower molar and premolar tooth-row and longer than the rostrum are features which differentiate the type from any other specimen seen of this race.

_Range._--Sea level to at least 6,000 feet (South Yolla Bolly Mountain, Trinity County, California); Upper Sonoran and Transition life-zones of the coast and Coast Range of northwestern California from the Golden Gate northward into southern Humboldt and Trinity counties. See figures 29 and 30 on pages 221 and 314.

_Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. oregonensis_ in longer hind foot of males which is more than 50 mm., and in both sexes, larger, more prominently ridged skull (see measurements and plates); from _M. f. saturata_ by presence of nasofrontal white spot, larger and relatively shallower skull of males and larger skull of female; from _M. f. nevadensis_ by presence of well-developed, white, facial markings; absence of color of underparts on ventral face of proximal third of tail; and hind foot of males more than 50; from _M. f. xanthogenys_ by near (_l_) Sudan Brown to near (_l_) Antique Brown rather than Buckthorn Brown colors of upper parts and greater size, and in adult male basilar length more than 45 and hind foot more than 47; from _M. f. nigriauris_ by having inside of ears same color as back rather than much darker than back.

_Description._--_Size._--Male: Three adults and two young from Point Arena and Gualala, Mendocino County, yield average and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 447 (434-470); length of tail, 167 (150-185); length of hind foot, 53 (50-60). Corresponding measurements of three adults from 5 and 6 miles west of Inverness, Marin County, are: 430 (420-440), 154 (141-160), 48 (48-49). Corresponding measurements of four individuals (3 adults and 1 young of large size) from South Yolla Bolly Mountain, Trinity County, are: 383 (374-400), 134 (130-138); 44 (43-44). The tail averages 60 per cent as long as the head and body in the series from Point Arena, 56 per cent in the series from Point Reyes, and 53 per cent in the series from South Yolla Bolly Mountain. In every specimen except two, length of hind foot less than basal length. The two exceptions are no. 19720, M.V.Z., male adult from Point Arena in which the hind foot is recorded as 60 (probably an error in measurement), and no. 19721, M.V.Z., from the same place, in which the skull has not yet attained its full growth.

Female: One adult from Point Arena measures as follows: Total length, 383; length of tail, 134; length of hind foot, 43. Corresponding measurements of an adult from seven miles north of Laytonville, Mendocino County, are: 336, 121, 33 (= 36 on dried skin). Corresponding measurements of an adult from South Yolla Bolly Mountain, Trinity County, are, 326, 113, 37. In these three specimens, the tail is, in the order given, 54, 56, and 53 per cent as long as the head and body. Length of hind foot more than basal length.

Differences in external measurements of the two sexes as indicated by the five males and one female from Point Arena, are: Total length, 64; length of tail, 33; length of hind foot, 10. Weights of 2 adult males are 265 and 221 grams and of one adult female 155 grams.

_Externals._--As described in _Mustela frenata nigriauris_.

_Color._--Spot between eyes, narrow band or spot confluent with color of underparts on each side of head anterior to each ear, chin, lower lips, and rarely posterior third or less of each upper lip white; dark spot posterior to each angle of mouth uniformly present and of large size; tip of tail black; remainder of upper parts near (14 _l_) Sudan Brown and tone 4 of Raw Umber of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 301; occasionally, slightly darker brown on forehead, nose, and about eyes. Underparts near (_a_ to _c_) Ochraceous-Buff and sometimes Orange-Buff. Color of underparts extends distally on posterior sides of forelegs over toes onto antipalmar faces of feet and wrists, on medial sides of hind limbs over antiplantar faces of toes. Least width of color of underparts averaging, in a series of 5 males from Mendocino County, 57 (46-67) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts; 38 (35-40) in 3 males from Point Reyes, Marin County. Black tip of tail in Mendocino County series averaging 53 (46-60) mm., which is same length as hind foot and 32 per cent of length of tail. In Point Reyes males, black tip of tail averages 44 (34-52) mm., which is less than length of hind foot and 45 per cent as long as tail-vertebrae.

Several specimens of the smaller, inland variant (see under "_Remarks_") are near (_l_) Antique Brown rather than near (14 _l_) Sudan Brown above and hence do not differ in this respect from _nigriauris_.

_Skull and teeth._--Male (based on 3 adults from Mendocino County): See measurements and plates 19-23, 30. As described in _Mustela frenata nigriauris_ except that: Weight, 6.0 (5.4-6.3) grams; basilar length, 47.6 (46.5-48.2); length of tympanic bulla more than length of lower molar and premolar tooth-row.

Female (based on no. 19723, M.V.Z., from Point Arena): See measurements and plates 34-36, 40. As described in _M. f. nigriauris_ except that: Weight, 3.0 grams; basilar length, 42.3.

The skull of the female is 50 per cent lighter than that of the average male.

Compared with the skull of the male of _nevadensis_ that of _munda_ averages larger in every part measured and specimens from Point Arena are nearly as heavy again, have relatively more expanded zygomata and mastoid processes but are relatively narrower anteriorly as shown by the breadth of the rostrum, interorbital breadth and postorbital breadth. Also the braincase is less inflated anteriorly, the tympanic bullae are lower and the skull is more angular. Females show the same differences although in different degree. Compared with the skull of the male of _M. f. nigriauris_, that of _munda_ from Point Arena averages larger in every part measured except for the length of the upper tooth-rows. Relative to the basilar length, the skull of _munda_ averages broader across the mastoids and across the zygomata, is deeper through the braincase at the anterior end of the basioccipital, and has a greater development of the lambdoidal crest.

_Remarks._--The skin and part skull, no. 536/1849, U. S. Nat. Mus., taken by Lieutenant W. P. Trowbridge at San Pablo Bay, is the first specimen known to have been saved of this subspecies. Since 1899 when O. Bangs diagnosed _munda_ as of small size, the weasel of the humid costal belt north of San Francisco Bay has been regarded as smaller than bridled weasels from farther south in the State. Actually, however, the weasel of the humid costal belt shares with _M. f. pulchra_ the distinction of being one of the two largest weasels in California.

_M. f. munda_ may be a composite subspecies, for the variation in facial markings, in coloration otherwise, in external measurements and in size and shape of skull is great. At one time in the course of the present study, manuscript accounts of two subspecies were prepared for the animals now all called _munda_ and there is still much justification for recognizing two subspecies, one, along the coast proper, the larger, darker-colored animal with reduced white facial markings and large, wide, heavily ridged skull from Point Arena, and 6 miles south of Laytonville, Mendocino County, along with the specimens from 5 and 6 miles west of Inverness, Marin County, and the other, an inland race, which is a smaller, lighter-colored animal with more extensive white facial markings and a smaller, narrower, skull, known by specimens from Point Reyes [station?], Nicasio, 15 mi. north of San Rafael, Freestone, Vallejo, and Mount Sanhedrin. The differences between these two lots of specimens are of great degree. However, a female from Fort Bragg proves to be no larger than three females labeled as from Point Reyes. Also, a male from 2 miles south and one mile east of Stewarts Point on the coast has a skull no larger than the animal from Vallejo, whereas the skin alone of an adult female from 3 miles south of Stewarts Point is large and agrees with the specimens from Point Arena. Consequently, no logical ranges can be worked out for the two variants with the material now available.