After writing the above, a good representation of the weasel population along the eastern side of Puget Sound was made available by friends in that area. Study of the weasels from there shows that their color is intermediate between that of altifrontalis and nevadensis. On the whole, they (specimens from Bellingham, for example) resemble one subspecies about as much as the other. In cranial characters some specimens, in certain features, approach nevadensis but most specimens agree with altifrontalis and all are more nearly like altifrontalis to which race all are referred.

The color of these animals is to me indistinguishable from that of washingtoni. The color of washingtoni is merely intermediate between that of nevadensis and altifrontalis. Nevertheless, the race washingtoni has cranial characters (long narrow skull) which set it off from both altifrontalis and nevadensis. This shape of skull is not found in the specimens from along the eastern side of Puget Sound; these animals have skulls like that of altifrontalis and when departures from this occur they are in the direction of nevadensis and not washingtoni.

The above, then, explains why specimens which are colored like those of washingtoni are not referred to that race but instead to the race altifrontalis.

Of 23 adult skulls examined, 19 have the frontal sinuses malformed as the result of infestation by parasites.

Specimens examined.—Total number, 80, arranged within states by counties from north to south. Unless otherwise indicated specimens are in the United States National Museum.

British Columbia. Chilliwack, 1[74], Lihumption Park, 4750 ft., 2[77]; Cultus Lake, 1[77].

Oregon. Clatsop County: Old Fort Clatsop, 1[74]; Astoria, 1. Tillamook County: Tillamook, 12 (7[14], 2[74], 2[2], 1[46]); Netarts, 1[46]; Blaine, 16 (13[14], 1[93], 1[76], 1[59]). Lane County: Reed, 1; Mercer, 1[46]. Curry County: Langlois, 1[46].

Washington. Whatcom County: Nooksack River, 2000 ft., 14 mi. E Glacier, 1; Swamp Creek, 2050 ft., Nooksack River, 3[10]; Lookout, 4800 ft., Mt. Baker, 2[10]; Bellingham, 8[25]; 5 mi. S Bellingham, 1[49]. Skagit County: Rockport, 300 ft., 1. King County: Bothell, 2[94]; N Seattle 1[51]; Seattle, 1[49]; Tye, 1[51], 2 mi. E Skykomish, 1[51]; 7 mi. E Kent, 1[76]; Auburn, 3[94]. Pierce County: Tacoma, 1[1]. Clallam County: Sequim, 1[49]; Soleduc Riv., near [sic.] Sappho, 1[49]; Happy Lake, 1[60]; mouth of Boulder Creek, Elwha River, 560 ft., Olympic Mts., 1; Hume's Ranch, 1000 ft., Elwha River, 1; Bogachiel Riv., 1[49]. Mason County: Lake Cushman, 2; 4 mi. N Shelton, 1[51]. Thurston County: Olympia, 2[49]; Tenino, 1[51]. Pacific County: 2-1/2 mi. SE Chinook, 3[74].

Mustela frenata oregonensis (Merriam)

Long-tailed Weasel

Plates [19], [20], [21], [30], [34], [35] and [36]

Putorius xanthogenys oregonensis Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:25, June 30, 1896; Bangs, Proc. New England Zoöl. Club, 1:57, June 9, 1899.

Mustela xanthogenys oregonensis, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:99, December 31, 1912.

Mustela xanthogenys munda, Grinnell, Univ. California Publ. Zoöl., 40:102, September 26, 1933 (part).

Mustela frenata oregonensis, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. 473:107, November 20, 1936.