Fortunately, the skull of this specimen labeled (see Lyon and Osgood, 1909:218) as taken at Fort Laramie, Wyoming, is well preserved. Its only defects are a fracture in the left zygomatic arch and the absence of parts of each of the first lower molars. In deciding on the subspecific application of the name Putorius culbertsoni Coues, the skull of the type must be principally relied upon, for there is available only one other specimen, a skin only (no. 12596, U. S. Nat. Mus.), from the same place, and it, like the type, is in white winter pelage and lacks flesh measurements.

The ranges as now known of three subspecies of Mustela frenata approach near to Fort Laramie. These are M. f. longicauda, M. f. alleni, and M. f. nevadensis. The skull of the type of culbertsoni is not typical of any one of the three mentioned races. The small size of its teeth and relative (to basilar length) shallowness of the frontal region of the skull through the postorbital processes of the frontal are as in nevadensis. The zygomatic arches are not so greatly expanded as in some specimens of longicauda and are more like the average for nevadensis or alleni, as also is the relatively (to basilar length) long orbitonasal length. However, each of these characters is subject to variation and alone is not surely diagnostic, especially toward the margin of the range of any one of the subspecies concerned. The same may be said of the relatively great breadth of the skull interorbitally—a feature typically found in longicauda. More important, in my estimation, is the large size of the skull; all parts measured (excepting the teeth, the depth at the posterior border of the last upper molars, the zygomatic breadth, and the depth of the tympanic bullae) equal or approach nearest to the average for males of longicauda of similar age.

The small size of alleni prevents its identification with culbertsoni. The question of application lies between nevadensis and longicauda. If the long-tailed weasel at Fort Laramie is found to be referable to the race earlier named longicauda, no change in current nomenclature will be effected. If, on the other hand, the long-tailed weasel from Fort Laramie is found to be referable to nevadensis this name will have to fall before the earlier proposed name culbertsoni. There is, however, a third possibility, namely, that the long-tailed weasel of the Transition and Upper Sonoran zones of southern Wyoming and northern Colorado, as for example, at Lay, Colorado, may represent a recognizable race characterized by size about as in longicauda, relative proportions of skull about as in nevadensis and coloration intermediate, to which the name culbertsoni may apply. For more detailed discussion of this possibility, see remarks under M. f. nevadensis.

Satisfactory application of the name Putorius culbertsoni Coues requires an adequate series of adult specimens, of both sexes in the summer coat with external measurements taken in the flesh, from the type locality and like material from elsewhere in southern Wyoming. On the evidence furnished by the skull of the type of culbertsoni, that name tentatively is placed in the synonomy of longicauda.

Only 2 of 25 adults examined for malformation of the frontal sinuses by parasites showed evidence of disease.

Specimens examined.—Total number, 138, arranged alphabetically by provinces and states and further by districts or counties from north to south except as otherwise indicated. Unless otherwise indicated specimens are in the collection of the United States National Museum.

Alberta. St. Albert, 1; S. Edmonton, 3; Islay, 4[77]; Battle River, south of Camrose, 1[77]; Daysland, 1[77]; Moose Pass, 1; Blindman River, 2 (1[75], 1[2]); Red Deer, 3 (2[2], 1[60]); Bearberry Creek near Sundre, 1[77]; Canad. Nat. Park, N.W. Territory, 1[60]; Red Deer River, Didsbury, 1; Canmore, 1; Calgary, 11 (6[60], 2[1], 1[86]); Red Deer River, 3[2]; Little Sandhill Creek, Red Deer River, 1[77]; Waterton Lake Park, 2[77]; Sweetgrass Hills, 1[77]; Alberta, 1[14].

Colorado. Yuma County: Wray 4 (1[88], 3[74]).

Kansas. Rawlins County: 7 mi. N, 3 mi. W Beardsley, 1[74]; 6 mi. S and 2 mi. E Atwood, 1[74]; 15 mi. SE Atwood, 1[74]. Thomas County: near Brewster, 2[93]; no locality more definite than county, 2[93]. Trego County, 2 (1[2]). Cloud County: Glasco, 1[67].

Manitoba. Portage la Prairie, 3[75]; Carberry, 2 (1[2], 1[1]); Carman, 1[60]; Max Lake, Turtle Mt., 1[77].

Montana. Glacier County: St. Marys Lake, 1; Blackfoot, 1: Blackfoot Agency, 1. Blaine County: 6 mi. east Chinook, 1[74]. Pondera County: 1/2 mi. SE Conrad, 1[74]. Toole County: Shelby Junction, 1. Hill County: Havre, 1. Fergus County: Moccasin Mts., 5 mi. NW Hilger, 1; 7 mi. NE Hilger, 1. Rosebud County: 3/4 mi. N Ingomar, 1. County in question, Milk River, 2.

Nebraska. Dawes County: Chadron, 2[35]. Cherry County: Kennedy, 1; no locality more definite than county, 1. Brown County: Long Pine, 1[68]. Antelope County: Neligh, 1[35]. Adams County: Hastings, 2[2]. Clay County: Inland, 4[35].

North Dakota (arranged by counties from west to east). Divide County: Crosby, 1. Mountrail County: Lostwood, 1. Little Missouri River, 1. Golden Valley County: Sentinel Butte, 1. Billings County: Medora, 1[60]. McLean County: 3 mi. W Elbowoods, 1. Oliver County: Ft. Clark, 2. Morton County: Mandan, 1. Sioux County: 3 mi. N Cannonball, 1. Logan County: 6 mi. SW Napoleon, 1. Rolette County: Turtle Mts., 1[76]; Fish Lake, 1. Benson County: Ft. Totten, 3[14]; Sully Hill Nat. Park, 1. Ramsey County: Devils Lake, 2. Stump Lake or Turtle Mts., 2[2]. Nelson County: Stump Lake, 1. Grand County: Larimore, 1. Walsh County: Grafton, 11 (4[76], 3[74], 2[2]). Stutsman County: Jamestown, 1. Barnes County: Valley City, 1.

Saskatchewan. Wingard, 5; Osier, 2[75]; Simpson, 1[2]; Touchwood Hills, 4[7]; South arm Last Mountain Lake, 1[77]; Rush Lake (Assiniboia, N.W.T.), 2[75].

South Dakota. Pennington County: Rapid City, 1.

Wyoming. Goshen County: Fort Laramie, 2.

Mustela frenata oribasus (Bangs)

Long-tailed Weasel