104 BULLETIN NO. VII. 



states that "its favorite food is the Canada porcupine, which 

 it kills by biting in the belly." Other writers have questioned 

 the truth of this statement, but it has recently received addi- 

 tional verification. Mr. Merriam writes: "During a recent 

 visit to the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, I was in- 

 formed, both by an agent of the Hudson Bay Company and by 

 the trappers themselves, that porcupines constitute a large 

 and important element in the food supply of the Pekan. Mr. 

 Nap. A. Corneau, of Godbout, who secured for me a large and 

 handsome male of this species, tells me that its intestine con- 

 tained hundreds of porcupine quills, arranged in clusters, like 

 so many packages of needles, throughout its length. In no 

 case had a single quill penetrated the mucous lining of the in- 

 testine, but they were apparently passing along its interior as 

 smoothly and surely as if within a tube of glass or metal. Mr. 

 Corneau did not discover a quill in any of the abdominal vis- 

 cera, or anywhere in the abdominal cavity, excepting as above 

 stated; a great many, however, were found imbedded in the 

 muscles of the head, chest, back and legs, and it was remark- 

 able that their presence gave rise to no irritation, no products 

 of inflammation being found in their vicinity. In examining 

 the partially cleaned skeleton of this specimen, I find some of 

 the quills in the deep muscles and ligaments about the joints. 

 A knee, in particular, shows several in its immediate neighbor 

 hood." 



The nest is made in a hollow tree, generally thirty or forty 

 feet from the ground, and two to four young are brought forth 

 about the first of May. 



" They are agile and muscular animals, jumping from tree to 

 tree like a squirrel, clearing a distance of forty feet in a 

 descending leap, never failing of a secure grip." Corporal 

 Lot Warfield, quoted by Merriam. 



Mustela americana TURTON. 



AMERICAN SABLE OR MARTEN. 



Mustela martes FORSTER, SABINE, HARLAN, EMMONS, AUD. and BACHMAN, 



BILLINGS, KENNICOTT, etc. 

 Mustela americana TURTON, BAIRD, COUES, etc. 

 Martes americana GRAY. 

 Mustela zibellina var. americana BRANDT. 

 Mustela vulpina RAFINESQUE. 

 Mustela leucopus KUHL. 

 Mustela huro F. OUVIER. 



