126 ~ MAMMALIA—SABLE...SKUNK. 
bring forth her young in it. In the same manner, she occupies the old nests 
of the owl and the buzzard, as also the hollow places of trees, from which 
she presently dislodges the woodpecker, and other birds. 
THE SABLE. 
Tuis animal resembles the marten, and is found in great numbers in 
Siberia and Kamtschatka. Its fur is very valuable, and the Russian govern- 
ment derives considerable revenue from its sale. Pennant and Godman 
both say it is found in the northern parts of our continent; but Richardson 
does not mention it in his Fauna Boreali Americana. 
THE SKUNK. 

Tuts animal inhabits the whole of North America, and is also found 
throughout a part of the southern portion of that continent. A considerable 
number of animals of this genus are natives of America, resembling each 
other strongly in form and size, but differing in the number and variety of 
their stripes and markings, have been described by authors as so many 
distinct species. Baron Cuvier thinks that the present state of our 
knowledge of these animals does not warrant us in considering them 
otherwise than as varieties of a single species, and of these varieties he 
enumerates fifteen. 

1 Mustela zibellina, PALLAs. 
2 Mephitis Americanus, Desm. The genus Mephitis has six upper and six lower incisors ; 
two upper and two lower canines ; eight upper and ten lower molars. Body elongated, 
arched ; toes of the foot separated, and armed with strong nails, the anterior formed for 
digging; tail long and bushy, or none. 
