348 BACKBONED ANIMALS. 



NOTE. The adaptation of the limbs in the sea-otter is extremely 

 interesting and worthy of special attention, and an advantageous study 

 would be a comparison of the limbs (Fig. 370) of different animals. 



FIG. 370. Feet of various animals compared. A, deer ; B, ornithorhynchus ; 

 C, otter ; Z>, frog ; , seal. 



The common mink of this country (Fig. 371) attains a 

 length of seventeen inches to the tail, which is eight inches 

 longer. The body-color is a dark chestnut-brown, the 

 tail black, and tip of the chin white. The marten or 

 American sable (Mustela) ranges from northern New 

 York northward, and is much valued. It attains the 

 same length as the common mink, the tail being about 

 two inches longer. Its color is a rich, glistening, golden 

 red, clouded with black ; the legs and tail are dark, a light 

 patch appearing upon the throat ; the feet are thickly 

 furred. They burrow, and nest in old trees, and bring 

 out a litter of. from two to seven young in April. The 

 fisher, or pekan, weasels, etc., are allies. The most fero- 

 cious of the group is the glutton, or wolverine (Gulo). It 

 is confined to the cold regions of Europe, Asia, and North 

 America, coming as far south as the Great Lakes. In the 

 latter country it attains a length of three feet and a half 

 to the tail, which is about one foot in length and extremely 



the sun, then scratch themselves on the limbs, twisting about in vari- 

 ous ways, and when just out of the water they are so absorbed in their 

 toilet that they can frequently be taken. The males and females show 

 the greatest devotion, kissing and patting each other like human beings. 

 The mother's antics with the young are equally amusing ; she tosses it 

 in the air, fondles it in her arms, catches it with her fore-feet like a ball, 

 and swims about with it clasped to her breast. The Chinese train the 

 sea-otter to fish, and many are used for the purpose. 



