168 MARTEN. 



into a discussion on the subject, which will be found 

 learnedly handled by Mr Bennet, in the valuable 

 work, entitled " The Gardens and Menagerie of the 

 Zoological Society delineated," and in Mr Bell's 

 not less interesting " History of British Quadru- 

 peds/' The examination of individuals in different 

 stages, and obtained in different parts of Scotland, 

 has disclosed to me a gradation of colouring, com- 

 bined with a sameness of form, that has satisfied 

 me as to the indivisibility of the species. In fact, 

 the " Beech Marten" and the " Pine Marten J> differ 

 less from each other, as to size, than individuals of 

 the Polecat, Ermine, or Weasel, and the differences 

 of colour observed are not greater than in the Com- 

 mon Fox. 



The Marten, as represented by a specimen pro- 

 cured in Lanarkshire, may be described as follows: 

 The head is rather flattened above, of a somewhat 

 triangular form, and tapers to a rather sharp muzzle. 

 The nostrils are terminal, roundish, with a lateral 

 slit ; the eyes rather small ; the ears short, broad, 

 rounded, and on the outer margin toward the base 

 slit into two laminae. The limbs are of moderate 

 length, being proportionally much longer than in 

 the Weasels. On the fore foot the first toe is very 

 short, the second and fifth equal, the fourth longest ; 

 on the hind foot the proportions are similar; the 

 soles of all are covered with hair ; and the claws 

 are rather large, compressed, tapering, and arcuate. 

 The incisors in both jaws are small, but deep and 

 compressed, the lateral in the upper jaw larger and 



