oj the Mackenzie River District, 27 



The legs and paws as well as the top of tlie tail are nearly pure 

 black. The claws are white and sharp. The ears are invariably 

 edged with a yellowish white, and the cheeks are generally of the 

 same hue. The forehead is of a light brownish grey, darkening 

 towards the nose, but in some specimens it is nearly as dark as 

 the body. The yellowish marking under the throat, ( consi- 

 dered as a specific distinction of the pine martins) is in some well 

 defined, and of an orange tint, while in others it is almost per- 

 fectly white. It also varies much in extent reaching to the fore- 

 legs on some occasions. At other times it consists merely of 

 a few spots, while in a third of the specimens under consideration 

 it is entirely wanting. 



After minutely comparing these skins with Professor Baird's and 

 Dr. Brandt's description of the martins, and the latter gentle- 

 man's paper on the sables, I find that the M. Americana of 

 this district agrees in general more closely with the latter, and am 

 therefore disposed to coincide with that gentleman in his opinion 

 that they are only varieties. The martins of this district bear a 

 greater resemblance to the sables of Eastern Siberia than to the 

 martins of Europe, holding, as it may be with propriety said, an 

 intermediate position. I am also inclined to believe that the va- 

 rious colors found in these regions are simply varieties of the 

 same species, and that the diflference, if any, seen in the Zib. are 

 merely continental. In summer when the long hairs have fallen 

 off, the pelage of this animal is darker than in winter. The fore- 

 head changes greatly, becoming as deeply colored as any other 

 part of the body, which is of an exceedingly dark brown tint on 

 the back, belly, and legs. The yellow throat-markings are much 

 more distinct at this season, but vary much both in color and 

 extent, though in only one summer skin are they absolutely want- 

 ing. The white edging on and around the ears still remains, but 

 the cheeks assume a greyer tint. The tail is not so full, but from 

 the high North latitude (the Arctic coast) from which these 

 skins were procured it is still rather bushy. One of the specimens 

 has the dark hairs laid on in thin longitudinal stripes, causing a curi- 

 ous appearance. 



Martins are found all over this district, except on the barren 

 ground to which, as they are arboreal animals, they do not resort. 

 Their dens are sometimes excavated, but more frequently are made 

 in a tree. Their principal food is mice, and they are therefore 

 abundant whenever these little creatures are plentiful. 



