140 MAMMALIA OF INDIA. 
and cast aside, the number that fall victims to larger predatory animals, 
and the operations of disease, from which no animals, small or great, 
are free, we may form some idea of the immense multitude of these 
little creatures. 
The ordinary divisions of the restricted Mustelide are the Martens 
(Martes), Pole-cats (Putorius), and Weasels (Mustela), but Gray has 
further subdivided them chiefly on the characteristics of the feet. 
The Martens have four more teeth than the rest, which are dis- 
tinguished as follows :— 
Putorius.—Short ovate head ; feet very hairy, especially between the 
pads ; body stout; underside blackish. 
Mustela.—Narrow, elongated head ; feet very hairy between the 
pads ; slender body ; under-side yellow or white. 
Vison.—Head elongate, narrow ; feet slightly hairy; pads exposed ; 
body rather slender ; under-side same colour as upper. 
Skull of Putorius, 
Gymnopus.—Head elongate, narrow ;: feet rather naked, bald beneath, 
between, and rather behind the pads ; toes largely webbed ; soles hairy 
behind ; body slender. 
It is doubtful whether these distinctions are of sufficient importance 
to warrant so much subdivision; and unnecessary multiplication of 
genera is a thing to be avoided as much as possible. 
GENUS MARTES—THE MARTENS. 
A more or less arboreal group of larger size, and possibly less 
sanguinary habits than the weasels, although in this respect I do not 
think there is much difference. The tail is longer, though not so long 
as the head and body, and it is bushy ; the fur is fine and in general 
% 
— oe ae 
