Thk Zoologist— Makch, 1&70. 2037 



MusTELIDiE. 



American Sable, Mustela ameiicana, Tiirton ; Pine Marten ; 

 Marten Cat (Newfoundland). — Still common in various parts of the 

 island, but from the increasing, or, at any rate, present value of the fur 

 is annually becoming scarcer. It is a bold rapacious animal, and in 

 its habits reminds one much of the common polecat (M. piitorius). 

 One of the specimens I obtained entered the house of a settler and 

 carried off a dead duck (Anas obscurus), but was subsequently shot in 

 a tree near the spot, — in fact, while returning for a second duck, having 

 probably hid the other. Marten cats are easily caught by iron traps 

 placed in "cat-houses," or in "dead-falls." Without attempting to 

 settle, or even discuss, the vexed question as to the identity of this 

 species with," the European M. zibellina, I may here state that very 

 little reliance can be placed on the colours of the Martinae, as a very 

 appreciable difference exists in this particular, even in specimens 

 obtained in Newfoundland and the Labrador, the former being much 

 lighter throughout, but especially about the head and ears. So 

 perceptible is the distinction that a trader readily separates the 

 Newfoundland skins from those obtained on the mainland. 



Common American Weasel, Putorius noveboracensis, Dekay. — 

 Abundant throughout the island. Although I shot and trapped a great 

 many weasels, both in summer and winter pelage, besides examining 

 quantities of other skins obtained by the settlers, I was unable to find 

 any other species. A specimen in alcohol, in the transition slate, 

 shot by me on the 1st of September, 1866, was forwarded to the British 

 Museum and pronounced by Mr. G. R. Gray to be of this species. 



Luteins. 



American Otter, Lutra canadensis, Sabine. — Apparently common, 

 if one may judge from the number of skins the traders annually 

 obtain from the settlers. Both traders and settlers make two varieties 

 or species (?) of the Newfoundland otters: one, which is called the 

 " country otter," and principally frequents inland brooks and rivers, 

 has the fur of a beautiful shining dark liver-brown, almost black on 

 the back ; while the other variety, called the "salt-water" oiier, is 

 said (for I was unfortunate in not getting a specimen) to have the fur 

 of a rusty brown colour, and to be considerably larger than the 

 " country otter," although the skin is not nearly so valuable, rarely 

 realising more than three or four dollars, whereas good skins of the 



