MARTEN 



Marten. — Martes americana 



and related forms 



Names. — Marten; Pine Marten; American Marten; Ameri- 

 can Sable; Hudson Bay Sable. Plate VII. 



General Description. — A small carnivore of weasel-like form, 

 a little smaller than a House-cat, with soft, rich pelage, bushy 

 tail, and ochraceous or buffy patches on throat and chest. 

 Head rather small; ears broad and rounded; body long and 



Fig. 23. Marten 



lithe; limbs short; toes five on each foot, claws sharp and 

 slender; soles densely hairy; tail about half as long as head and 

 body, bushy, cylindrical; habit more or less arboreal. 



Color. — Sexes colored alike; no very marked seasonal varia- 

 tion in color. 



Upperparts. — Uniform rich yellowish brown mixed with 

 hairs which are dark brown ; dark brown on legs and tail ; ears 

 edged with whitish; top of head warm brown. Tone of upper- 

 parts varies from warm yellowish brown, almost olive, to light 

 buffy brown with ochraceous tinge, and top of head from 

 brown to almost white. 



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