238 Dr. Horsfield on a new Species of Mustela. 



Art. XXIX. Notice of a new species of Mustela, found in 

 India, by Major -General Thomas ilardwicke, F.R.S., 

 F.L.S , §-c. By Thomas Horsfikld, 3I,D., FM.S., 



L.S., G.S., Stc. 



The animal, of which a concise notice is now offered to the public, 

 was presented to the Museum of the East India Company, with many 

 other objects of Natural History, by Major-General Thomcis Hardwicke, 

 soon after his last arrival from India. When mounted and placed in our 

 collection, the name of Mw^tela Hardwicldi was assigned to it ; since 

 that period I have been confirmed in my opinion that the animal still re- 

 mained unknown to naturalists, and was new to our catalogues. Although 

 its history cannot be completely illustrated at present, since the specimen 

 is not perfect in all its parts, the skull having been removed in the pre- 

 paration, yet I considered it incumbent on me, not to withhold from the 

 public a concise notice of the external character of this beautiful qua- 

 druped. On communicating my intention to the liberal donor, he has 

 KOt only very kindly approved of it, but he has also favoured me, very 

 politely, with the remarks he made in India when he first obtained this 

 animal, as they are recorded in his manuscripts. Little further therefore 

 remains for me, than to prepare these remarks for the purpose of a com- 

 munication to the editor of the Zoological Journal. 



I embrace this opportunity with particular satisfaction of bearing a 

 public testimony of the distinguished liberality of General Hardwicke to 

 the Museum of the East India Company. I might perhaps feel some un- 

 eap'ness on account of the loss which the collection of this disinterested 

 patron of natural history has suffered by his liberal donation, were I not 

 assured that the gratification afforded to many visitors of our Museum, 

 the satisfaction of the Honourable Court of Directors of the India Com- 

 pany, together with that of many private friends who have witnessed the 

 labours of General Hardwicke in India, at least in some degree compen- 

 sate the privation which his private collections have sustained by his pub- 

 lic munificence. 



Size about one-third above that of the Mustela foina, or Pine Martin ; 



