Complete intergradation with effera is shown by specimens from southern Oregon. The change from small effera to the larger nevadensis here is gradual; consequently in northeastern California and southern Oregon the size increases gradually to the northward. Specimens showing complete intergradation with oregonensis and saturata are wanting. However, one specimen from Crescent Lake suggests oregonensis in having near (18) apricot yellow underparts such as occur frequently in oregonensis. Also some specimens from northern California approach saturata in having the color of the underparts reduced in the extent to which it reaches out on the under side of the tail. This fact and the consideration that the two races are less different from one another than are other kinds which definitely are known to intergrade leave no doubt but that material from the intervening localities would show complete intergradation.
Intergradation between nevadensis and munda is indicated by specimens from South Yolla Bolly Mountain, Trinity County, which are commented on at greater length in the account of M. f. munda. M. f. inyoensis is so closely related to nevadensis as to leave no doubt that specimens from suitable localities will show actual intergradation. That intergradation occurs directly with the bridled weasel of the interior valleys of California, M. f. xanthogenys, is shown by specimens from along the west-facing flank of the southern part of the Sierra Nevada. Probably intergradation occurs all along the Sierra Nevada on the western slope but specimens are lacking to show this. Weasels are known to occur in the foothill territory and the lesser attention given to this region by mammal collectors than to the higher parts of the mountains may explain the lack of preserved specimens. Individual specimens, here referred to nevadensis, but, showing varying degrees of approach to xanthogenys are as follows: A female from Hume; a male and a female from 8000 feet elevation, Monache Meadows; a male from 9800 feet elevation on the east fork of the Kaweah River; and 7 specimens, probably one family, from one-half mile south of Mineral King, 7850 feet. Of the specimens from 7850 feet, the adult male has no light facial markings and the head is only slightly darker than the back. The adult female has much restricted, light facial markings and the intervening areas are darker than in the male. The five juveniles trapped in the same burrow as the female, each has more extensive light facial markings than the adult female although the area of this varies from only slightly more than in the female to as much as in typical specimens of xanthogenys. Also, the dark color of the head in these five specimens averages darker than in nevadensis and more as in weasels to the southwestward especially latirostra. One of the five juveniles is lighter colored over all of the upper parts than nevadensis and is suggestive of xanthogenys in this respect. Finally, the adult male has on the underparts small spots of ochraceous orange suggestive of latirostra and some individuals of pulchra. No. 30655/42628, U. S. Nat. Mus., taken on Mount Whitney, also shows white facial markings and some other features of the valley-inhabiting xanthogenys. A suggestion of intergradation with arizonensis is furnished by specimens, referred to that race, from Springerville and the Kaibab Plateau. No specimens happen to be available from the region in which intergradation would be expected between nevadensis and neomexicana. Since neomexicana and arizonensis intergrade it is probable that nevadensis also will be found to intergrade with neomexicana. In summary, nevadensis is judged to intergrade with each of the subspecies of Mustela frenata whose range adjoins that of nevadensis.
This subspecies is remarkably free from injury to the frontal sinuses such as result from the presence of parasites. In 98 adults from Oregon, California, Nevada, and Colorado, no malformation was noted. Only 1 of the 26 specimens from Washington was malformed and it was an intergrade with washingtoni. The single adult from New Mexico was diseased, as were 3 of the 6 from British Columbia, 1 of the 20 from Idaho, and 1 of the 7 from Utah.
Specimens examined.—Total number, 568, arranged alphabetically by provinces and states and from north to south by counties in each state. Unless otherwise indicated specimens are in the collection of the United States National Museum.
Arizona. Apache County: 15 mi. E Luka Chu Kai Navajo School, 8000 ft., 2.
British Columbia. Monte Cr., 20 mi. E Kamloops, 1[21]; Sicamous, 2; Okanagan, 18 (7[2], 6[85], 1[75], 1[86]); Monashee Pass, 1[31]; Swan Lake, near Okanagan Landing, 1[22]; Okanagan Landing, 11 (2[74], 3[31], 3[86], 3[22]); Vernon, 1[74]; Hope-Princeton Summit, 5600 ft., 1[77]; Hope, 1[20]; Similkameen, 1[77]; Osoyoos-Bridesville Summit, 1[77]; Anarchist Mt., Osoyoos, 1[31]; Myer's Creek, 1[77]; Rossland, Mt. Glory, 7000 ft., 1[77]; Cascade, 1[77]; Nelson, 1.
California. Siskiyou County: Hornbrook, 1; Tule Lake Refuge, 5[74]; Upper Mud Creek, 6700 ft., Mt. Shasta, 3; Mt. Shasta, 1. Modoc County: Goose Lake, 1[20]; Joseph Creek, 1[74]; 5280 ft., Parker Creek, near Alturas, 1[74]; Warner Mts., near Alturas, 1[8]; 5 mi. NW Eagle Peak, 7000 ft., 2[74]; Shields Creek, 5000 ft., 1[74]; Jess Valley, 1[8]. Shasta County: Cassel, 1. Lassen County: 3 mi. W Eagle Lake, 5800 ft., 1[74]; 4 mi. S Eagle Lake, 6000 ft., 2[74]; Mill Creek, 5000 ft., S base Mt. Lassen, 1; 6 mi. SW Calneva, 1. Tehama County: Dale's, 600 ft., on Paines Creek, 1[74]. Plumas County: Kelly's, 2 mi. S Willow Lake, 5200 ft., 3[74]; Quincy, 4[68]; Beckwith, Sierra Valley, 1. Butte County: Jonesville, 1[74]. Sierra County: Little Truckee River, 6500 ft., 3 mi. N Independence Lake, 2[42]. Nevada County: Independence Lake, 1[74]. Placer County: Donner, 3; 2 mi. W Soda Springs Station, 6500 ft., 1[74]; Blue Canyon, 5000 ft., 2 (1[74]); 4 mi. S Tahoe City, 1[74]. Eldorado County: 5 mi. S Tallac, 6300 ft., 1; Gilmore Lake, Mt. Tallac, 2[74]; Mt. Tallac, 1[68]; Phillips, 1[59]. Alpine County: 8000 ft., Hope Valley, 1; 8000 ft., Silver Creek, 1. Tuolumne County: Strawberry, 5200 ft., 1[74]; 9300 ft., Ten Lakes, Yosemite Park, 1[74]; Tuolumne Meadows, 8600 ft., Yosemite Park, 1[74]; Tuolumne Meadows (Soda Springs), 1; Tuolumne Meadows, 8500 ft., Yosemite Park, 1[74]; Sequoia, 1. Mariposa County: Chinquapin, 6256 ft., 2[74]; Merced Grove Big Trees, 5400 ft., 1[74]; Wawona, 1; no locality more definite than county, 1. Madera County: Bass Lake, 1[74]. Mono County: Tioga Crest, near Tioga Pass, 4[74]; Warren Creek, 1[74]; Tioga Lake, 1[74]; Ellery Lake, 9600 ft., 1[74]; Mono Lake P. O., Mono Lake, 1[74]; Walker Lake, 8000 ft., 2[74]; Pine City, 1; Mammoth, 13 (12[59], 1[14]); 10300 ft., near Big Prospector Meadow, White Mts., 2[74]. Inyo County: Little Onion Valley, 7500 ft., 1[74]; N Fork Bishop Cr., 10500 ft., 1[74]; S fork Bishop Cr., Andrews Camp, 8000 ft., 1[74]; South Lake, S Fk. Bishop Cr., 9750 ft., 1[74]; Lamarck Cr., 9900 ft., 15 mi. SW Bishop, 1[74]. Fresno County: Hume, 1. Tulare County: Mt. Whitney, 2; Whitney Meadow, 9800 ft., 1[74]; Monache Meadow, 8000 ft., 3[74]; E fork Kaweah River, 9800 ft., 1; 1/2 mi. S Mineral King, 7850 ft., 7[52]; Quaking Aspen Meadow, 7500 ft., 1[52].
Colorado. Moffat County: Lay, 1[19]. Routt County: Steamboat Springs, 2 (1[19]); no locality more definite than county, 1[57]. Jackson County: Higho, North Park, 8400 ft., 1; Buffalo or Illinois Creek, "near Rand," 6[74]. Washington County: 6 mi. NE Hillrose, 1[74]. Larimer County: Estes Park, 2 (1[2], 1[7]); Pinewood, 1; Loveland, 2 (1[57]); no locality more definite than county, 1[7]. Rio Blanco County: Compass Creek, 9000 ft., 1[2]; White River, 6200 ft., 1[21]; Piceance Creek, 6200 ft., 1[2]; Dry Fork, 6200-6600 ft., 4[2]; Meeker, 1; Marvine, 1[74]. Grand County: Crembling [= Kremmling?], 1[50]; Middle Park, 1[57]. Boulder County: Foot Mt. Meeker, 8700 ft., 1[2]; Silver Lake Mine, 1[60]; Boulder, 1[60]; Dixie Lake, 2 (1[2], 1[57]); Caribou, 1[2]; no locality more definite than county, 1. Clear Creek County?: Grays Peak, 1[93]. Jefferson County: 7000 ft., Mt. Parks, 1[57]; 6 mi. W Denver, 1[57]. Adams County: Barr, 1[2]; near East Lake, 2[57]. Denver County: Denver, 2 (1[2], 1[74]). Arapahoe County: Littleton, 1[19]. Summit County: Breckenridge, 1[57]. Eagle County: Eagle, 9500 ft., 1[102]. Park County: Jefferson, 4 (1[2]); 12800 ft., Mt. Bross, 1[57]. Mesa County: Tunnel, 1. Montrose County: near Crawford, Clear Fork of Smiths Fork, 1[19]; Coventry, 3 (1[19]); Naturita, 1; Paradox, 1[94]; West Paradox Valley, 1[57]. Pitkin County: Placita, 2[26]. Gunnison County: Marble, 1[26], Crested Butte, 2[19]; Deckers Ranch, Crested Butte, 2[19]; Sapinero, 7245 ft., 1[19]. Chaffee County: Buena Vista, 1[76]; Hancock, 1[16]; Salida, 5[19]. Teller County: Glencore, Pikes Peak, 1[76]. El Paso County: Monument, 1[76]; Seven Lakes, 1[19]; Lake Moraine, 10250 ft., 1[19]; Colorado Springs, 6000 ft., 1[19]; 5 mi. E Sand Creek, Colorado Springs, 1[19]; no locality more definite than county, 1[50]. Saguache County: Villa Grove, 1[19]; Pierce Place, Cochetopa Nat. Forest, 1; Houselog Creek, Cochetopa Nat. Forest, 1; P. Tevebaugh's Ranch, near Cochetopa Pass, 1; P. Tevebaugh's Ranch, 9 mi. S Cochetopa Pass, 1. Rio Grande County: between Monte Vista and Del Norte, 1[88]. Archuleta County: Upper Navajo River, 2[57]; Navajo River, 5 (4[57], 1[2]); Chromo, 2[57]. Conejos County: Osier, 3[57]. Montezuma County: Ure Peak, 1[57]. County in question: Del Norte Peak, 1[76]; no locality more definite than state, 4[75].
Idaho. Latah County: Cedar Mt., 4000 ft., 12 mi. NE Moscow, 1[55]; Moscow and 1/2 mi. W, 2[97]. Idaho County: Lochsa River (= Locksaw Fork), 1; between Selway Riv., and S Fork Clearwater Riv., 8[74]; Selway Divide, 8[74]; Pilot Creek, 2[74]; Newsome Cr., 1[74]. Lemhi County: Salmon River Mts., (now Lemhi Mts.), 8000 ft., 5; Leadore, 3. Adams County: summit Smith Mt., 7500 ft., 1[41]. Washington County: Midvale, 2. Custer County: Pahsimeroi Mts., 1; Double Springs, 16 mi. NE Dickey, 1[74]; Mackay?, 1; Stanley Lake, 1. Payette County: 2 mi. S Payette, 1[74]. Fremont County: 17 mi. E, 4 mi. N Ashton, 6275 ft., 2[74]. Teton County: 3 mi. S Victor, 1[74]. Jefferson County: 20 mi. W Camas, 1. Blaine County: Sawtooth City, 1; Ketchum, 5 (3[50], 2[75]). Canyon County: Nampa 3. Clark County: Dry Creek, Targhee Nat. Forest, 1[2]; Birch Creek, 2. County in question: North fork of Teton River, 1. Bingham County: Shelley, 1; Alridge, 2; Springfield, 1. Lincoln County: Shoshone, 1. Minidoka County: 1/4 mi. E Heyburn Bridge, 1[74]. Power County: 4 mi. NW American Falls, 1[74]. Bannock County: 3 mi. N Schutt's Mine, Ross Creek, 1[74]; 3 mi. N Pocatello, 1[74]; near (within 10 miles of) Pocatello, 1[74]; 3 mi. S Pocatello, 1[74]; 1 mi. E Portneuf, 1[74]; 2 mi. up Mink Creek, 2 (1[74], 1[41]); Inkom, 2; Swan Lake, 1. Owyhee County: 5 mi. SE Riddle, 1; Three Creek, 2. Cassia County: Elba, 1[52]. Bear Lake County: Geneva, 6171 ft., 1[74]; Montpelier, 1; Paris, 6000 ft., 1[6]; Pegram, 2.
Nevada. Humboldt County: Alder Creek, 7000 ft., Pine Forest Mts., 1[74]; head of Big Creek, 8000 ft., Pine Forest Mts., 1[74]; Cottonwood Range, 1; Calico Mt., Little Owyhee R., 1; Mahogany, Little Owyhee R., 2; Sulphur, 1. Pershing County: Lovelocks, 1. Elko County: Mountain City, 3; Three Lakes, Ruby Mts., 1[41]. Washoe County: Pyramid Lake, 1; 3 mi. E Reno, 1[74]; Incline Creek, 7100 ft., 1[74]; 2-1/2 mi. S Incline, 6250 ft., 1[74]; E side Marlette Lake, 8000 ft., 1[74]; Marlette Lake, 8000 ft., 1[74]. Ormsby County: 1/2 mi. S Marlette Lake, 8150 ft., 1[74]. Churchill County: 4 mi. W Fallon, 1[74]; 3 mi. W Fallon, 1[74]; 2 mi. W Fallon, 1[74]; Fallon, 3970 ft., 1[74]. 5 mi. S Fallon, 4000 ft., 1[74]; 8 mi. S and 3 mi. E Fallon, 1[74]. Douglas County: Mt. Siegel, 1[60]. Mineral County: Lapon Cañon, 8900 ft., Mt. Grant, 1. Nye County: Arc Dome, 1; 10700 ft., 1/2 mi. SW Jefferson Peak, Toquima Range, 1[74]. White Pine County: 3 mi. E Baker, 1[74]; Baker Creek, 6600 ft., 4[74]; Baker Creek, 8400 to 8450 ft., 4[74]; Gleason Creek, 7500 ft., 1[74]. Esmeralda County: Arlemont, 4850 ft., Fish Lake Valley, 1[74]. Lincoln County: 3 mi. S Crystal Spring, 3900 ft., Pahranagat Valley, 1[27].
New Mexico. Taos County: 2 mi. N Twining, 10500 ft., 1; Taos, 2. Santa Fe County: 11600 ft., Pecos Baldy, 1. San Miguel County: 8000 ft., above Willis, Pecos River, Forest Reserve, 2[75]; Ribera, 1.
Oregon (by counties from west to east). Jackson County: Rustler Peak, Crater Nat. Forest, 1[46]; Siskiyou (probably south of), 2. Klamath County: 20 mi. W Crescent, 1[101]; Anna Creek, Mt. Mazama, 2; S Boundary Crater Lake Nat. Park, 1[74]; Fort Klamath, 15; Upper Klamath Lake, 2[4]; Klamath Falls, 1[75]. Lake County: Dog Lake Ranger Station, 30 mi. SW Lakeview, 1. Harney County: Camp Harney, 2[75]; Burns, 2 (1[101]); 20 mi. S Burns, 1[46]; Narrows, 1[59]; Voltage, 1; Shirk P. O., 2; Keiger Gorge, Steen Mts., 4. Malheur County: Riverside, 1; 2 mi. NW Riverside, 2; Barren Valley, Cord, 1; Cedar Mts., 2; Cow Creek Lake, 1; Jordan Valley, 1. County in question: Sageview, 1.
Utah. Cache County: Logan, 1[74]. Rich County: 8000 ft., near Laketown, 1. Boxelder County: Willard, 1[101]. Salt Lake County: Salt Lake City, 1[74]; Barclay, 6500 ft., Wasatch Mts., 1; Mill Creek, 1[101]. Utah County: Provo Bench, 2[6]; Aspen Grove, Mt. Timpanogos, 1[6]; Payson, 1[6]. Juab County: between Santaquin and Starr, 1[103]. Uinta County: Dry Fork Canyon, 20 mi. NW Vernal, 1[9]. Carbon County: Sunnyside, 1[44]; Range Creek, 1[44]. Millard County: Deseret, 1[74]. Sevier? County: Fish Lake Plateau, 1. Grand County: Warner Ranger Station, La Sal Mts., 1[6]. Beaver County: Britts Meadows, 11000 ft., Beaver Range, 1[2]; Britts Meadows, Beaver Range, 1; Puffer Lake, 1[44]. Garfield County: Boulder, 2[6]. Washington County: Pine Valley, 1[44]; St. George, 1. San Juan County: Geyser Pass, La Sal Mts., 2[6]. County in question: Salt Lake, 2; Wasatch Mts., 1; La Sal Mts., 11000 ft., 1.
Washington. Okanogan County: Bald Mt., 6800 ft., 1; Bauerman Ridge, 6800 ft., Tungsten Mine, 1; Hart Pass, Methow River Trail, 1[46]; Conconully, 2 (1[51], 1[49]); 5 mi. NW Loomis, 1; Molson, 3800 ft., 1; Tunk Mt., 3500 ft., 1. Whatcom County: Barron, 5000 ft., 1. Stevens County: Colville, 1; Orin, 11[51]. Pend Oreille County: Ione, 6[51]. Chelan County: Chelan Mts., 1[2]; Lake Chelan, 1[46]; Manson, 1; Entiat River, 1680 ft., 20 mi. from mouth, 7; Dryden, 2[49]; Wenatchee, 1. Kittitas County: Easton, 2 (1[51]); Ellensburg, 1[51]; 4 mi. E Ellensburg, 1[51]. Grant County: Neppel, 1[51]. Lincoln County: Sprague, 1. Spokane County: Spokane, 1[94]; Cheney 2[89]. Whitman County: Pullman, 11 (6[55], 1[68], 1[10]); 6 mi. S Pullman, 1. Garfield County: Snake River, 1. Yakima County: Yakima, 1[74]; 1 mi. W Moxee, 1[74].
Wyoming. NW Wyoming, 1[75]. Yellowstone National Park: Lamar River, 1; Yellowstone Lake, 1. Park County: Greybull River, 1[80]. Teton County: Crystal Creek, 2; Jackson, 1; Whetstone Creek, 2[76]. Johnson County: Buffalo, 4 (2[93]). Fremont County: Continental Divide, 20 mi. NW Dubois, 1[75]. Sublette County: Bronx, 1[75]. Carbon County: Medicine Bow Mts., 1[75]; 15 mi. SE Parco, 1[74]. Albany County: Garrett, 1; 12 mi. W Laramie, 1[74]; 7 mi. W Laramie, 2[74]; 5 mi. W Laramie, 4[74]; "near" Laramie, 1[74]; 3 mi. SW Laramie, 1[74]; 12 mi. S Laramie, 1[74]. Uinta County: Fort Bridger, 6800 ft., 1[74]; Lonetree, 1; Bridger Pass, 1. County in question: Laramie River, 2. No locality more definite than state, 1.
Mustela frenata effera Hall
Long-tailed Weasel
Mustela frenata effera Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. 473:93, November 20, 1936.
Mustela arizonensis, Dice, Journ. Mamm., 1:12, November 28, 1919.
Type.—Male, adult, skull and skin; no. 33637, Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist.; Ironside, 4000 ft., Malheur County, Oregon; September 8, 1912; obtained by H. E. Anthony; original no. 267.
The skull (plates [19]-[21]) is complete and unbroken. The teeth all are present and entire. The skin, in summer pelage, is well made.
Range.—Upper Sonoran to Arctic Alpine life-zones of northern two-thirds of Oregon east of the Cascades, and southeastern Washington, south of the Snake River. See figure [29] on page [221].
Characters for ready recognition.—Differs from M. f. nevadensis in small size, males averaging 12-1/2 per cent smaller in external measurements, 8 per cent smaller in linear measurements of skull, and 22 per cent in weight of skull, total length averaging 360 rather than 400, condylobasal length averaging 40.5 rather than 43.6; from M. f. oregonensis in absence of frontonasal white patch, presence of light color of underparts on ventral face of tail and smaller skull with basilar length averaging less than 41.7 in males; from M. f. washingtoni in presence of light color of underparts on ventral face of tail, in male skull by linear measurements averaging 7 (5-12) per cent shorter and relative to basilar length shorter in preorbital region and broader across mastoid processes and zygomatic arches.
Description.—Size.—Male: Eight (6 adult and 2 subadult) males from northeastern Oregon yield average and extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 360 (340-378); length of tail, 129 (122-136); length of hind foot, 42 (40-44). Tail averages 56 (52-59) per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind foot more or less than (about same as) basal length.
Female: No. 212423 from Vale, and no. 566 V. B. Scheffer, from 15 mi. E Ukiah, measure, respectively: Total length, 312, 306; length of tail, 113, 114; length of hind foot, 35, 35. Tail averages 57 per cent as long as head and body.
Differences in external measurements between the one adult female and the average of the males are: Total length, 51; length of tail, 16; length of hind foot, 7.
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) about as shown in stage 4 of figure [19].
Color.—Upper parts, in summer, near (14 n to l) Brussels Brown or tones 1 to 3 of Raw Umber of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 301, darker on top of head from nose to, or slightly behind, line connecting posterior margins of ears. Chin and usually all of upper lips white. Remainder of underparts Buff-Yellow to Straw Yellow. In winter all white except tip of tail or upper parts near (j) Snuff Brown or lighter than Brussels Brown with a smoked effect, with underparts white. Tip of tail at all times black. Color of underparts extends distally on posterior sides of forelegs over toes onto antipalmar faces of toes and wrists, on medial sides of hind legs to ankles over antiplantar faces of toes, distomedial third of tarsus and usually over proximal fourth to three-fourths of ventral side of tail. Least width of color of underparts averaging, in 15 males, 53 (36-69) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail averaging 47 (38-67) mm. long. Thus averaging longer than hind foot, and 36 per cent of length of tail-vertebrae.
Skull and teeth.—Male (based on 6 adults from northeastern Oregon): See measurements and plates [19]-[21]. As described in Mustela frenata nevadensis except that: Weight, 2.9 (2.5-3.4) grams; basilar length, 40.5 (39.3-41.8).
Female (based on no. 212423, adult from Vale): In so far as parts of the broken skull permit a person to judge, the skull is as described in M. f. nevadensis except that: Smaller; lighter; postorbital breadth more than width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite.