1838. HOUSE— No. 72. 25 



hollow trees : rarely seen on account of its nocturnal habits. Lives 

 on squirrels and other small animals. Is very troublesome on sable 

 lines by robbing the traps of the sable. It is found occasionally on 

 the mountains in the neighborhood of Williamstown. 



Mustek Maries. Lin. Pine Marten. 



Color yellowish brown. Head and margin of the ear whitish. 

 Legs and extremity of the tail black. Long yellow stripe under the 

 neck, and reaching along the space between the legs. Toes 5, armed 

 with slender nails, almost concealed in the thick hair. Whole 

 length 1 foot 1 1 inches. Length of the body 1 foot 2 inches. 

 Height, at the anterior legs, 4^ inches. This animal lives wholly in 

 trees, and subsists on squirrels and other small quadrupeds. It is 

 rarely seen on account of its nocturnal habits. Is found in the vi- 

 cinity of Williamstown. The fur is beautiful and much esteemed. 



3. LUTRA. 



Gen. Char. Teeth, — , — , — : total, 36. 



O ^ J u 



Lutra Canadensis, Braziliensis of Harlan. American Otter. 



Color dark glossy brown ; pale or whitish about the throat and 

 face. Feet with 5 toes on the anterior legs, and 4, with the rudi- 

 ment of a fifth, on the posterior. Webbed, short and strong. Body 

 long and cylindrical. Tail depressed at the base. Whole length 4 

 feet, tail 1 foot 5 inches. Height 10 inches, length of the head 

 4|. Circumference at the middle of the back, 1 foot 7 inches. 

 Measurements taken from a fine male caught in the Hudson, near 

 Albany. One about the same size was taken in the Hoosic, in 

 Williamstown. Lives in holes on the banks of streams ; its princi- 

 pal food, fish, which it takes very expertly. Capable of being do- 

 mesticated and becoming somewhat familiar. Skin very tough, and 

 covered with the most valuable fur. Value of the skin, about ^8. 



J^ote. Length of another individual, 3 feet, 5 inches. From 

 the nose to the root of the tail, 2 feet 3 inches. Height at the fore 

 legs, 8 inches. Length of the skull 4 inches and 3 tenths. Height 

 li inches, breadth of the base, from one meatus to the other, 2 inches, 

 measured on the outside. Greatest width of the zygomatic arches, 



4 



