1902.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 447 



relatious of the Asiatic sable, 31. zihellina, to our West Americau 

 martens, nothing seems to have been published. Brandt, who 

 made a critical monograph on tliese subjects, seems not to have 

 had any skulls of zibelllna. Neither did Baird, Coues, or Allen. 

 Brandt (Beitr. Kennt. Sdageth. RussL, 1855) finds no differences 

 between the external characters of the Asiatic and "West American 

 martens, the ' ' sables ' ' of the ' ' Nischnaja Tunguska occupying 

 an intermediate position between the dark Asiatic and yellow 

 American sables." 



A fine series of sable skulls from Kamschatka, representing 

 thirty-two specimens of the Old World zihellina, correspond 

 exactly with the good figure of ziheUlna in Blainville's Osteo- 

 graphie. C.'omparing these with American martens we find 

 them larger than the largest skulls from Alaska, INIackeuzie aud 

 Labrador, six old males averaging 82 mm. in basilar length aud 

 53 mm. in zygomatic expansion. In the largest Alaskan exami)]e 

 the basilar length is 80 mm. A specimen from Peel's river, Mac- 

 kenzie territory, the largest in my American .series, is 82 mm. 

 long, Avhile the largest Kamschatkau skull is 85 mm. long. 

 In both size and proportions, however, these crania of zihellina are 

 remarkably like actuosa of Alaska and hrumalis of Labrador. 

 But when the dental characters are examined there is a distinct 

 separation between them, based, as above mentioned, on the great 

 size and peculiar asymmetric saddle shape of the upper posterior 

 grinder of zihellina as contrasted with the rectangular, transversely 

 elongate shape of that tooth in americana. The distinction of 

 relative size and the inner tuberculatiou of the lower sectorial in 

 these Kamschatkau skulls is also a decided feature as contrasted 

 with their nearest geographic allies in America. Comparing these 

 zihellina skulls with three Swedish skulls, typical of martes, the 

 close specific relationship between these two is emphasized in every 

 character examined. On the other hand, foina specimens fi'om 

 Germany are very distinct in cranial features. 



In foina we have a very short, broad and flattened skull, wholly 

 lacking any sagittal ridge on the occipital crest, even in old age. 

 The frontal constriction is relatively unprououuced. The posterior 

 upper grinder is mora rectangular in shape than in the martes 

 group, and owing to tlie short rostrum the premola:- teeth overlap 

 at base instead of being separated by short diastcnue. In respect 



