MUSTELA.] MAMMALIA FEIUS. 11 



GEN. 3. MUSTELA, Linn. 



(1. MUSTELA, Cuv.) 



3. M. Foina, Linn. (Common Martin.) Brown : 

 throat and breast white. 



M. Foina, Desm. Mammal, p. 182. Martes Fagorum, Flem. Brit. An. 

 p. 14. Martin, Penn. Brit. Zool. vol. i. p. 92. pi. 6. no. 15. 



DIMENS. Length of the head and body eighteen inches; of the head 

 four inches three lines ; of the tail nine inches six lines. 



DESCRIPT. Hair of two sorts ; the shorter very fine and soft, and of a 

 pale ash-colour ; the longer somewhat rigid, less abundant than the last, 

 ash-coloured at the roots, dusky brown towards the extremity, with a 

 tinge of chestnut red : legs and tail dusky : under parts somewhat paler 

 than the upper : a white spot upon the throat extending itself over the 

 under surface of the neck and anterior portion of the breast. 



More generally diffused than the next species, and said to prefer the 

 vicinity of houses. Preys on poultry, game, rats, moles, &c. Breeds 

 frequently in hollow trees, producing from three to seven young at a 

 time. 



4. M. Maries, Linn. (Pine Martin.) Brown : throat 

 and breast yellow. 



M. Martes, Desm. Mammal, p. 181. Martes Abietum, Flem. Brit. 

 An. p. 14. Pine Martin, Penn. Brit. Zool. vol. i. p. 94. Don. Brit. 

 Quad. pi. 13. 



DIMENS. Length of the head and body one foot seven inches ; of the 

 head four inches ; of the tail ten inches. 



DESCRIPT. Differs from the last species in having the throat, under 

 surface of the neck, and anterior portion of the breast, yellow : the head 

 also shorter, the hair rather darker, and the legs a little longer. 



Inhabits the fir woods of Scotland : occurs also sparingly in the West 

 of England. Builds its nest on the tops of trees, and produces from two 

 to three young. Frequents wild situations. Preys on the smaller quad- 

 rupeds and birds. 



(2. PUTORIUS, Cuv.) 



5. M. Putorius, Linn. (Polecat.) Dusky brown with 

 a tinge of yellow ; beneath paler : some white spots about 

 the ears and mouth. 



M. Putorius, Desm. Mammal, p. 177. Flem. Brit. An. p. 14. Fitchet, 

 Penn. Brit. Zool. vol. i. p. 89. pi. 6. no. 14. Polecat, Shaw, Gen. 

 Zool. vol. i. p. 415. pi. 98. 



DIMENS. Length of the head and body one foot six inches; of the 

 head two inches ten lines ; of the ears six lines ; of the tail five inches 

 six lines. 



