HISTORY AND HABITS OF THE MARTEN. 91 



Meusureme)iis of forty-six sJxulls of Mustela Americana — Continued. 



GENERAL HISTORY AND HABITS OF THE SPECIES. 



According to the foregoiug consideratious, the history of 

 this interesting animal, one highly valuable in an economic 

 point of view, is to be disentangled from that of the European 

 and Asiatic species, with which it has always been to a greater 

 or less degree intermixed. The first specific name, so far as I 

 have become aware, is that bestowed in 1806 by Turton, in an 

 edition of the Sy sterna Xaturce; if there be an earlier one, it 

 has escaped me. This name, however, appears to have been 

 generally overlooked, or at least unemployed, until of late 

 years revived by Professor Baird. His usage of the term, 

 however, has received but partial support, some of the later 

 writers agreeing with the custom of earlier ones in referring 

 our animal to the European Marten, from which, as I have 

 shown, it is well distinguished. Previous to the appearance of 

 Dr. Brandt's elaborate memoir, only one author, it seems, 

 among those who denied its specific validity, came so near the 

 mark as to refer it to the Asiatic Sable. This was Dr. God- 

 man, but even he used the name under the impression that the 

 true Sable existed in America, as well as the Pine Marten^ 



