84 NORTH AMERICAN MUSTELID.E. 



an orauge tiut, while in others it is almost perfectly 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 Prof. Baird^s 

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

 gentleman'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 in- 

 clined to believe that the various colors found in these regions 

 are simply varieties of the same species, and that the differ- 

 ences if any, seen in the Zib. [stc, lege zibellina] 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 abso- 

 lutely wanting. The white edging on and around the ears still 

 remains, but the cheeks assume a grayer tint. The tail is not 

 so full, but from the high ^N'orth 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 longi- 

 tudinal stripes, causing a curious appearance." 



The last paragraph brings us directly to the consideration 

 of the position which the American Marten holds among its 

 congeners. Upon this vexed question it is incumbent upon 

 me to review the testimony for and against the specific dis- 

 tinction of this animal from the Old World Pine Marten and 

 Sable, and to state clearly the grounds upon which my own 

 conclusions rest. Passing over some earlier accounts, which, 

 owing to inadequacy or lack of point, are entirely superseded 

 by later and better investigations, we may examine four au- 

 thors who have made the subject a matter of special examina- 

 tion, namely. Gray, Brandt, Baird, and Allen. 



In the first place, If. foina may be thrown entirely out of 



