_Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. e. arctica_,
in that, in males, hind foot less than 44 and basilar length less
than 41 and in that females average smaller, their skulls being
only about 10 per cent lighter; from _M. e. polaris_ in darker
upper parts (Raw Umber rather than Buckthorn Brown) and
less-intensely-colored underparts that are Sulphur Yellow,
Colonial Buff or Primrose Yellow rather than Buff Yellow, and in
lesser size in the same fashion as from _arctica_; from _M. e.
richardsonii_, of both sexes, in that proximal two-thirds of under
side of tail colored same as underparts rather than same as upper
parts and by least interorbital breadth amounting to more, instead
of less, than distance between glenoid fossa and posterior border
of external auditory meatus.
_Description._--_Size._--Male: Ten adults and subadults, from
Southampton Island, yield average and extreme measurements as
follows: Total length, 282 (267-318); length of tail, 77 (59-87);
length of hind foot, 40 (38-43).
Female: Four subadults from Southampton Island yield average and
extreme measurements as follows: Total length, 271 (256-288);
length of tail, 71 (69-74); length of hind foot, 35 (33-38).
_Color._--As described in _M. e. arctica_ except that least width
of color of underparts averaging, in 7 males, 59 (45-81) per cent
of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail in 19
male topotypes averaging 72 (64-83) mm. which is 91 (75-122) per
cent of length of tail-vertebrae.
_Skull._--Male (based on 2 adults and 10 subadults from
Southampton Island): See measurements and plates 2-4. As described
in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except that: Weight, 2.0 (in one
subadult) grams; basilar length, 37.5 (35.7-39.9); length of
tooth-rows more than length of tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum
more than a third of basilar length; interorbital breadth more
than distance between glenoid fossa and posterior border of
external auditory meatus; zygomatic breadth more than distance
between last upper molar and jugular foramen.
Female (based on 1 adult and 4 subadults from Southampton Island):
See measurements and plates 9-11. As described in _Mustela erminea
richardsonii_ except that: Weight, 1.35 (in one adult) grams;
basilar length, 34.2; breadth of rostrum more than 30 per cent of
basilar length; interorbital breadth more than distance between
glenoid fossa and posterior border of external auditory meatus;
zygomatic breadth more or less than (approximately same as)
distance between last upper molar and jugular foramen.
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