296 Dr. A, Hall on the Mammals and Birds 



loses its brilliancy, and changes to a paler orange with little lus- 

 tre. The throat and breast have various inconstant markings of 

 yellowish white; feet slightly palmated at the base of the toes ; 

 toes 5 with black hooked nails. 



M. Canadensis. Pean or Fisher martin. 



M. Pennantii of Erxlebein and Baird ! 



M. melanonyncha. Bodds ! 



M. piscator of various authors ! 

 v.s.p. Length of body 23 inches ; of tail 16 inches. Fur 

 shining black at the tips, yellowish brown more inferiorly, and 

 grey brown at base; throat, abdomen and legs, blackish brown ; 

 an inconstant white mark on breast and between the hind legs ; tail 

 long, bushy and black ; ears brownish with white margins, pale 

 anteriorly and blackish posteriorly ; chin and nose tipped with 

 brown ; claws hooked and strong. 



Sub genus jfephitis. 

 Sub gen. char. Incisors |, canines If, molars |f . Differs 

 from mustela in having the upper tubercular molar very large, 

 broad and long, and the inferior carnivorous with two tubercles 

 on its inner side ; toes separated, nails long ; heel a little raised 

 in walking ; feet hairy ; tail long and bushy or wanting. 



M. Americana. Chinche or Skunk. 

 Virerra me2:)hitis of Gmelin 1 

 Chinche of Buffon. 

 infant du diahle of Charlevoix. 

 Mephitis mephiteca. Baird ! 



v.s.p. Length 10 inches; tail V inches, the long hair at 

 extremity of tail nearly one-half the said length. Fur black, shin- 

 ing on the whole body, except on the back, where two broad 

 white lines advance and meet over the neck. A white line also 

 reaches from the forehead to the tip of nose. Hair of the tail 

 long and bushy, and with the exception of the tip is black ; legs 

 comparatively short, but very muscular ; claws on the fore feet 

 very strong and hooked ; toes not palmated. An anal follicle 

 contained a very foetid secreted fluid, which by a muscular ap- 

 paratus the animal is enabled to eject to a considerable distance 

 when pursued or in danger. 



Sub genus Lutra. 

 Sub gen. char. Incisors |, canines H, molars ^{ = 38. 

 Three false molars on each jaw ; the lower greater carnivorous 



