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U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS ZOOLOGY GENERAL REPORT. 



The skull, too, of the fertile appears a little different in the specimens compared ; the cranium 

 of the male being more con 'acted in proportion, and the head generally narrower than in the 

 female. This may, however, be merely the effect of age. 



Measurements. 



A good deal has been written upon the relationships or differences of the martens of Europe 

 and America. A series of several specimens from Sweden, collected at the same season of the 

 year with the Adirondac specimens, furnish the following comparisons. 



The Swedish specimens are much larger, although the skulls appear to indicate the same age. 

 The fur is harsher and coarser, and the prevailing tints paler ; the tail and feet are not very 

 dark brown, instead of being almost black. The color of the fur at the base is lighter. The 

 throat patch does not touch the fore legs. 



The tails of the European specimens appear longer in proportion to the body, and there is a 

 decided difference in the extent of the naked balls on the ends of the toes, which in the 

 European are distinctly visible or but partially concealed, while in the American it is only after 

 the most careful examination that anything of the kind can be detected. Differences in the 

 ekull are still more tangible, and seem quite characteristic. These are shown in an annexed 

 table. 



The sable, M. zibellina has as yet not been definitely ascertained to belong to this continent, 

 though the American marten is called sable in New York and the fur countries, bearing this 

 name also in the trade. The true sable is readily distinguishable by the short tail, which does 

 not extend as far as the end of the outstretched hind feet, and by the balls of the toes covered 

 entirely with woolly fur. Its colors, however, though darker, are not very dissimilar to the 

 American marten. 



In some respects, as in certain features of the skull and teeth, the American marten approxi 

 mates to the beech marten, M. foina, more than to the European true marten. The beech 

 marten can, however, be known by the naked pads on the soles as well as the toes ; the whiter 

 spot on the throat, (not so yellowish,) &c. 



