Part 52

The skin is stuffed and well preserved. The skull (plates 16-18) is unbroken. The teeth all are present and entire. The presence of a well-developed scrotal pouch shows the specimen to be a male. Contrary to what was stated in the original description the specimen was taken in 1926 and not in 1925.

Range.--Lower Austral Life-zone of southeastern Texas, Louisiana, and into Mississippi. See figure 29 on page 221.

Characters for ready recognition (of males).--Differs from M. f. olivacea in smaller size (adult males with hind foot and basilar length less than 45), depth of skull at anterior margin of basioccipital, ignoring sagittal crest, amounting to more than 63 per cent of mastoid breadth, and greater convexity of dorsal outline of skull in longitudinal axis (see pls. 16-18); from M. f. noveboracensis, in males, by zygomatic breadth not less than distance between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla and by convex dorsal outline of skull in longitudinal axis; from M. f. primulina by evenly spreading zygomatic arches, lesser inflation of tympanic bullae anteromedially than posteromedially, and convex dorsal outline of skull in longitudinal axis; from M. f. texensis and M. f. frenata by absence of white facial markings and postorbital breadth more than distance between posterior borders of P4 and P2.

Description.--Size.--Male: The type, a subadult male, measures (inches and quarter fractions thereof, transposed into millimeters) as follows: Total length, 390; length of tail, 113; length of hind foot, 44. Tail is 41 per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind foot less than basal length.

Typical female unknown.

Externals.--Longest facial vibrissae black, or dark brown (both colors in the type) and extending beyond ear; carpal vibrissae same color as underparts and extending to within 3.5 millimeters of apical pad of fifth digit. Hairiness of foot-soles in type slightly less than shown in figure 20.

Color.--Upper parts in summer tone 4 of Burnt Umber of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 304; underparts as described in M. f. olivacea. In winter, upper parts (based on type) near (1) Brussels Brown or grayer than tone 4 of Burnt Umber of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 304, darker on top of head from nose to a line connecting posterior margins of ears. Chin and posterior third of each upper lip white. Remainder of underparts white with wash of Warm Buff. Tip of tail black. Color of underparts extends distally on posterior sides of forelegs over toes but represented on antipalmar faces of feet by only a few scattered hairs. Color of underparts extends distally on medial sides of hind limbs only to knees. Least width of color of underparts amounting to 15 per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail 50 mm. long; thus longer than hind foot and 44 per cent as long as tail-vertebrae.

Skull and teeth.--Male (based on type and 2 subadults): See measurements and plates 16-18. As described in M. f. noveboracensis except that: Weight, 4.0 (3.7-4.3) grams; basilar length, 43.5 (43.3-43.6); zygomatic breadth not less than distance between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; postorbital breadth more than length of upper premolars; interorbital breadth more than distance between foramen opticum and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; least width of palate more or less than length of P4; tympanic bulla longer than rostrum.

Female: Typical skull unknown. The skull from 12 miles east of Eagle Lake, Texas, lacks the convexity in the dorsal longitudinal axis and the skull agrees with those of larger individuals of primulina except that the anteromedial faces of the tympanic bullae are less inflated, and the mastoid and zygomatic breadths are greater than in any female seen of primulina. Probably this greater breadth is the result of intergradation with M. f. frenata to the westward.

Compared with the skull of M. f. olivacea that of arthuri differs as follows: Averaging smaller in every part measured; basilar length 5 mm. less; by weight a fourth lighter; relative to basilar length, interorbital breadth greater and zygomatic and especially mastoid breadth less; dorsal outline of skull more convex in longitudinal axis; tympanic bullae narrower and less inflated especially on anteromedial faces. Compared with the skull of noveboracensis that of arthuri has the zygomatic breadth equal to or exceeding the distance from the anterior palatine foramen to the anterior margin of the tympanic bulla, whereas the zygomatic breadth is less than this distance in noveboracensis. Also, in arthuri, the rostrum is relatively shorter, the braincase is more inflated anteriorly, the zygomatic arches are more uniformly spreading, and the dorsal outline of the skull is distinctly convex, both transversely and longitudinally, whereas it is transversely more nearly flat in noveboracensis and longitudinally is concave in the interorbital region.

Compared with M. f. primulina, arthuri has narrower bullae, which are much less inflated on their anteromedial faces, a less marked postorbital constriction, a braincase which is narrower across the mastoid region and broader anteriorly, and a skull, which, in longitudinal axis, has the dorsal outline markedly more convex.

Compared with the skull of M. f. texensis that of arthuri is smaller in every part measured; length one-fifth less; one-half as heavy; postorbital constriction less marked; braincase relatively narrower posteriorly and tympanic bullae less inflated especially anteromedially. Compared with the skull of M. f. frenata that of arthuri is smaller in every part measured; basilar length 6 mm. less; a third lighter; postorbital constriction less marked; relative to the basilar length the rostrum is broader, longer and deeper; the zygomatic expanse and breadth of the braincase across the mastoids is less; the dorsal profile of the skull is more convex in longitudinal axis; zygomata evenly spreading rather than abruptly protruding from skull posteriorly; tympanic bullae less inflated anteromedially.

Remarks.--In 1926, Stanley C. Arthur, then Director of the Division of Wild Life, for the Louisiana State Department of Conservation, obtained specimens of this weasel. Some of them were mounted and the remainder were placed in the collections of the United States National Museum and the Museum of Vertebrate Zoölogy. In 1938 to 1940 George H. Lowery saved specimens from Baton Rouge, which showed the color of the summer pelage and revealed that the size of males was more than was indicated by the original materials. In 1940 and 1941 Rollin H. Baker obtained specimens from eastern Texas which greatly extended the known geographic range.

In addition to the localities represented by specimens examined, Arthur (1928:117) has recorded specimens from Greensburg, St. Helena Parish; Braithwaite, Plaquemines Parish; Geismar, Assumption Parish; Laurel Hill, West Feliciana Parish; French Settlement, Livingston Parish; and Kentwood, Tangipahoa Parish. All these localities lie within the eastern half of southern Louisiana. A skin-only, no. 38902, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., obtained from a fur buyer by Stanley C. Arthur, was taken in Mississippi "south of Jackson." Possibly it is of the subspecies arthuri.

Intergradation with M. f. olivacea is indicated by a specimen from Mobile County, Alabama, commented on in the account of olivacea. Intergradation with primulina is indicated by the shape of the anteromedial part of the bullae of the specimen from Swartz, Louisiana, that is referred to primulina. The lack of specimens from the northern two-thirds of Mississippi and from western Tennessee, prevents any definite statement as to the limits of range of arthuri in those areas. In comparison with animals from the type locality, the slightly larger size of the adult male from Baton Rouge, and the still larger size of the adult male of primulina from Swartz, Louisiana, suggests that the olivacea "influence" may extend farther west in the latitude of northern Louisiana than anywhere else.

None of the skulls examined shows malformation of the frontal sinuses such as results from infestation by parasites in some races. Arthur (1928:115) speaks of the ". . . cut-over swamp land, where the tupelo and cypress have been removed, . . ." as constituting suitable habitat for this animal.

Specimens examined.--Total number, 13, as follows:

=Texas.= Colorado County: 12 mi. N Eagle Lake, 1; 5 mi. W Eagle Lake, 1; 3 mi. S Garwood, 1.

=Louisiana.= East Baton Rouge Parish: Baton Rouge, 4. Livingston Parish: Springville, 1. Saint James Parish: Convent, 1; Remy, 2 (1, 1). Assumption Parish: near Lake Verret, 1.

=Mississippi.= Harrison County: Saucier, 1.

=Mustela frenata olivacea= Howell

Long-tailed Weasel

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

Mustela peninsulae olivacea Howell, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 26:139, May 21, 1913.

Mustela frenata olivacea, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. 473:104, November 20, 1936.

Type.--Male, adult, skull and skin; no. 180802, U. S. Nat. Mus., Biol. Surveys Coll.; Autaugaville, Autauga County, Alabama; December 22, 1912; obtained by L. S. Golsan.

The skull (plates 16-18), although cracked at two places in the interorbital region, is in one piece and not warped out of shape. The teeth all are present and entire. The skin is exceptionally well made and in perfect condition except for the extreme tip of the tail which is broken off.

Range.--Lower and Upper Austral life-zones in eastern Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and northern Florida. See figure 29 on page 221.