MUSTELID& 58 1 



compressed ; first and second subequal, third considerably larger. 

 Lower incisors very small, especially the first, and crowded 

 together, the second placed rather behind the others. Canines 

 long and sharp-pointed. Upper premolars : first very small, with 

 simple crown and one root ; second and third nearly equal in size 

 and two -rooted, with simple compressed sharp -pointed crowns, 

 with very slightly developed accessory cusps ; fourth (the carnassial) 

 with blade consisting chiefly of the central and posterior lobes, the 

 anterior being rudimentary, inner tubercle small and confined to 

 the anterior part of the tooth. True molar tubercular, about 

 twice as wide transversely as in the antero-posterior direction, 

 having an outer, more elevated, but smaller portion, bearing three 

 blunt tubercles ; to the inner side of this the crown is contracted, 

 and its surface deeply hollowed; it then expands again into a 

 broad low lobe, with the central part elevated, and a raised, even, 

 semicircular, slightly crenated internal border. Lower premolars : 

 first very small, simple, and one-rooted ; second, third, and fourth 

 increasing slightly in size, with high compressed pointed crowns 

 and posterior accessory cusps, best marked in the third. First 

 molar (carnassial) with well-marked bilobed blade, talon scarcely 

 more than one-third of the length of the tooth, and a very small 

 inner cusp. Second molar small, single -rooted, with a low, 

 flattened, subcircular or oval tubercular crown. 



In' geographical distribution the Martens are limited to the 

 northern hemisphere, ranging throughout the greater part of the 

 temperate regions of both Old and New Worlds, as far north as 

 conditions of existence suited to their habits are met with, and 

 southwards in America to 35 N. lat., while in Asia one species is 

 met with as far in this direction as the island of Java. 



The various species appear to be very similar in their habits. 

 They live in woods and rocky places, and are thoroughly arboreal, 

 spending most of their time in trees, although descending to the 

 ground in quest of prey. They climb with great facility, and are 

 agile and graceful in their movements. Some species are said 

 occasionally to resort to berries and other fruit for food, but as a 

 rule they are strictly carnivorous, feeding chiefly on birds and their 

 eggs, small mammals, as squirrels, hares, rabbits, and moles, but 

 chiefly mice of various kinds, of which they destroy great numbers, 

 and occasionally snakes, lizards, and frogs. In proportion to their 

 size they are among the most bloodthirsty of animals, though less 

 so than the true Weasels. The female usually makes her nest of 

 moss, dried leaves, and grass in the hollow of a tree, but sometimes 

 in a hole among rocks or ruined buildings, and produces several 

 young at a birth, usually from four to six. Though wild and 

 untameable to a great degree if captured when fully grown, when 

 taken young they are very docile, and have frequently been made 



