No geographic variation has been detected between lots of specimens from different parts of Vancouver Island. The one specimen available from Salt Spring Island presents no obvious differences from selected individuals from Vancouver Island.
The winter pelage is more often brown than white. Of 17 specimens seen in winter pelage or in transition pelage, only 6 are white. These 6 are from Comox, Stamp River, Hilliers, Jeune Landing and Port Alice. Of the 34 specimens in brown pelage, 7 have the dark color of the upper parts meeting on the abdomen. Six of the 34 have brown color on the pectoral region. In two, this is a separate patch but in the other four the dark color is a continuation of the upper parts and extends in front of each foreleg over part of the pectoral region, but the two extensions, one from either side, do not meet on the underparts. The color of the lips was recorded in 22 individuals: one had both the upper and lower-lips white; 7 had the upper lips brown and the lower lips white; in 14 both the upper and lower-lips were brown.
_Specimens examined._--Total number, 40, listed by localities from north to south as follows. Unless otherwise indicated, specimens are in the National Museum of Canada.
=British Columbia.= Vancouver Island: Cape Scott, 4; Shushartie, 1; Quatsino, 1[74]; Jeune Landing, 1[74]; Port Alice, 5[15]; Marble Creek, Quatsino Sound, 1[22]; Port Hardy, 5; Sayward, 2; Bear Lake, 4; Bear River, 1; Comox, 4(3[85]); Stamp River, Alberni, 1[31]; Errington, 1[74]; French Creek, 1[74]; Hilliers, 1[74]; Craigs Crossing, 1[74]; Nanaimo, 2[22]; Cowichan Lake, 1[22]; Duncan, 2[85]; Salt Spring Island, 1[85].
_Mustela erminea fallenda_ Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:79, February 27, 1945; Hall, Journ. Mamm., 26:181, July 19, 1945.
_Putorius streatori_ Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:13, June 30, 1896 (part-Sumas).
[Illustration: FIG. 27. Map showing known occurrences and probable geographic ranges of the subspecies of _Mustela erminea_ in Washington and parts of British Columbia and Oregon.]
_Type._--Male, adult, skull and skin; no. 7096, Nat. Mus. Canada; Huntingdon, British Columbia; May 21, 1927; obtained by C. H. Young, original no. 317.
The brown summer skin is well made. The skull (plates 5-7) is complete. Right p2 has the crown broken away; otherwise the teeth all are present and entire.