of the Mackenzie River District* 23 



decayed in the woods, at a short distance from Fort Resolution 

 on th« shores of Great Slave Lake. But as I have never seen 

 the animal alive there, and the natives report that it does not fre- 

 quent the county within a considerable distance of that post, this 

 sub-family must be considered as unrepresented in the fauna of 

 Mackenzie's River. 



The food of the Mustelidse is animal. Birds, reptiles, eggs, 

 and especially mice, are eaten by the martins; the otter, and 

 mink eat fish; but the wolverine delights in carrion. This 

 last is a most destructive beast, but an account of its propensities 

 will be given when I come to review the subject in detail. 



Although these animals are so fierce and blood thirsty when in 

 their natural state, they are far from difficult to tame, and I have 

 seen martins, ermines, minks and otters, in confinment which ap- 

 peared afi'ectionate and graceful pets ; and there is no reason 

 why the wolverine, fisher, and skunk, should not become equal- 

 ly docile, though I doubt if any person would much like the latter 

 animal about the house. 



Sub-Family. — Martince. 



Upper true molar short, transversely elongated, molars unequal 

 in the two jaws. Soles generally hairy, the walk more or less 

 plantigrade. In this sub-family are included several animals in- 

 habiting the colder regions of North America, and whose fur is 

 among the most valuable produced on this continent. It contains 

 3 genera : 



1. Mustela. 2. Putorius. 3. Gulo, 



All of which have representatives in this District. 



1, Mustela. — Lin. 



Teeth 38. Molars one above, and two below, premolars four 

 on each side above and below. Lower sectorial tooth with a 

 small internal tubercle. Body slender : tail rather long. 



This Genus embraces the martins in distinction to the weasels. 

 Its species are usually of large size, arboreal habits, and all of them 

 yielding peltries of great value. Two and possibly three species 

 inhabit this district, the largest of which is M,Fennanti, another 

 is M. Americanus^ or American pine martin ; and the sable, M. 

 Zebellina, will probably be found in the Northern and N. W. 

 regions to constitute a third. 



