MARTES 367 



concave on outer side, irregularly convex on inner side, the region 

 of greatest width behind middle ; upper carnassial with inner 

 projection robust, its diameter in line of tooth-row nearly or 

 quite equal to greatest width of trenchant portion of tooth behind 

 middle of crown ; upi^er molar large, its greatest diameter about 

 equal to outer length of carnassial, the metacone more than half 

 as large as paracone, the outer border of the crown usually 

 notched ; general colour yellowish brovvn, the throat patch 



Fig. 76. 

 Maries martes. Nat. size. 



always distinctly tinged with yellow ; underfur moderately long 

 and dense. 



External characters. — Form slender and graceful, suggesting 

 that of both cat and squirrel ; legs moderately long ; tail about half 

 head and body, densely furred and bushy, the hairs at tip about 

 one-third as long as vertebrae. Head pointed ; eyes of medium 

 size ; ear rising distinctly above fur, its height from crown about 

 25 mm., the outline rounded but forming a slightly indicated 

 point above, the entire surface densely furred ; muzzle pad 



