MR. ALSTON ON THE BRITISH MARTENS. 443 
separating the species by the following external and internal 
characters :— ‘ 
Martes sylvatica.— Outer fur rich dark brown, under fur 
reddish grey, with clear reddish yellow tips; breast-spot usually 
yellow, varying from bright orange to pale cream‘colour or 
yellowish white. Breadth of the skull across the zygomatic arches 
rather more than half the length; the arches highest posteriorly, 
whence they slope rather suddenly downwards and forwards. 
Sides of muzzle nearly parallel; anterior opening of nares oval; 
postorbital process about equidistant between the frontal ‘constrie- 
tion and the anterior root of the zygoma. Palate comparatively 
narrow, with\a distinct azygos process on its posterior margin. 
Upper premolars placed regularly in the line of the series; the 
fourth ‘as long as the upper molar is broad, its inner cusp large 
and placed nearly at right angles to the axis of the tooth. Upper 
molar broader than long, its flattened inner portion considerably 
longer and larger than the outer part; in the latter the external 
tubercle fills the space between the anterior and posterior tubercles, 
so that the external outline of the tooth is simply convex, not.emar- 
ginated* First, lower molar with a slightly’ developed inner 
tubercle at the base of the main cusp. 
Martes foina.— Outer fur dull greyish brown, under fur greyish 
white; breast-spot smaller than in’ M. sylvatica, pure white: 
Breadth of the skull across the zygomatic arches much more than 
half the length; ‘the arches regularly curved, broadest and highest 
near their middle. Sides of muzzle slightly converging; ‘anterior 
opening of nares broader than in M. sylvatica, heart-shaped ;’ post- 
orbital “process nearer to the frontal constriction than to the 
anterior root of the zygoma. Palate comparatively broad, trun- 
cated posteriorly... Upper premolars crowded, and ‘often placed 
diagonally, their anterior extremities being directed inwards ; the 
fourth considerably longer than the upper molar is’ broads" its 
inner cusp smaller, and placed more diagonally than in M. syl- 
vatica. Upper molar subquadrate, its flattened inner, portion 
hardly longer or larger than the outer part, in which the’ external 
and anterior tubercles are placed close together, the external out- 
line of the tooth being distinctly emarginated * between them and the 
* We have italicised Mr. Alston’s words here, in order to indicate a character 
upon which especial reliance is placed. In the ‘Proceedings of the Zoological 
Society,’ from which we quote, the skulls of both species are figured.— Ep. 
