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LXVII. Description of a new Species of North American Marten 
(Mustela vulpina). By C. S. Rarrmgesque*. 
Tue regions watered by the Missouri are inhabited by many 
animals as yet unknown to the zoologist, although many have 
been noticed by travellers. A species of marten has lately been 
presented to the Lyceum of Natural History in New York, which 
was brought from that country, and appears to belong to a pe~ 
culiar species, very different from the common martens of Europe, 
Asia*“and America, although it has in common with it the cha- 
racter of the yellow throat ; but the head, feet and tail afford so 
many peculiar characters, that no doubt can be entertained of its 
diversity. I have therefore given to it the name of Mustela vul- 
pina or Fox Marten, owing to its head and tail being somewhat 
similar to that of a fox. 
MUSTELA VULPINA. 
Definition.— Brown ; three large yellowish spots underneath 
on the throat, breast, and belly: cheeks, inside of the ears, and 
a spot on the nape, white: tail tipped with white, one-third of 
its total length: feet blackish : toes white. 
Description.—This animal is of a fine shape; its size is rather 
above mediocrity, being about half a foot high, and the total 
length being about twenty-seven inches, whereof nine form the 
tail. The general colour of the fur-is a drab brown, and it is 
neither coarse nor very fine. The head is elongated oblong, about 
four inches, long-shaped like that of a fox: the snout is narrow: 
the nose is black, notched and granulated, furnished on each side 
with black whiskers two inches long: there are three long black 
hairs or vibriss@ above each eye, and a few shorter ones scattered 
behind them on the cheeks, chin and tip of the lower jaw, which 
is white: the cheeks are whitish, and there is a white spot on 
the nape of the neck: the ears are large, broad, and white inside. 
There are three large oblong spots on the throat, breast and 
belly; this last is the largest: that on the breast, the smallest. 
The fore legs are shorter then the hind ones, and have behind 
three very long hairs or vibriss@: the feet and toes of all the legs 
are covered with long fur: the former have a dark brown or 
blackish ring, and the latter are of a dirty white: there are five 
long toes to all the feet, of which the inner one is the shortest: 
the nails are white, retractile, and shorter than the fur. The 
teeth are as in the genus Mustela, and white ; those of the lower 
jaw are larger and stronger: the grinders are four on each side: 
they are broad, trifid, with the middle lobe sharp and very long: 
the tusks or dog-teeth are very strong, curved, and approxi- 
* From the American Journal of Science, No. I. 
mated, 
