4/0 



MR. E. R. ALSTON ON THE BRITISH MARTENS. [June 3, 



the upper molar is broad ; its inner cusp smaller, and placed more 

 diagonally than in M. sylvatica. 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 outline of the tooth being distinctly emarginated between 

 them and the posterior tubercle. First lower molar with a well- 

 developed inner tubercle at the base of the main cusp. 



Fig. 1 . 



Skull of M.foiiia. 



As Blasius has remarked, the differences of proportion are less 

 conspicuous when a skull of an aged example of M, foina is com- 

 pared with that of a young M. sylvatica than when individuals of 

 the same age are contrasted; nevertheless they are always present to 

 an appreciable degree. In his figures Blasius has represented a 

 further distinction, in the form of the transverse ridges of the soft 

 palate ; but I have not had an opportunity of testing the constancy 

 of this feature ; nor have I sufficient materials for any original ob- 

 servations on the distinctive marks of the American and Siberian 

 M artens, as to which I can only refer the reader to the descriptions 

 of Drs. Coues ' and Middendorff 2 . On the whole it may be said 



1 Fur-bearing Animals, pp. 59-96, pis. ii., iv. 



2 Eeise in Sibir., ii. Tli. ii. pp. 68, 69, pi. ii. figs. 1-6. 



