230 ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 
rican species, by proving that the Vison (comprehending 
the Mustela lutreocephala of Harlan) belongs to a dif- 
ferent group, and pointing out the characteristic features 
that distinguish the Pekan, (with which he has identified 
the Fisher-Weasel of Pennant), from the Pine Marten 
of both continents. But the justice of the separation 
of the latter from the Beech Marten, and of both from 
the Sable, still remains open to investigation, with little 
chance of being speedily or permanently settled. For 
our own parts we confess that after the most patient 
and attentive consideration which we have been enabled 
to bestow upon the subject, aided by the consultation 
of the best printed authorities, and the examination of 
numerous specimens, we have been unable to arrive at 
any satisfactory conclusion. On the one side we have 
the weight of great names in zoology, as well as the 
common consent of popular tradition, for regarding the 
three species just enumerated as distinct; and this 
opinion is in some degree confirmed by the apparent 
permanence of certain characters, trifling in themselves, 
but which have been regarded as sufficiently important 
to establish a real distinction between them: on the 
other side we have authorities equally great for consi- 
dering two at least out of the three as mere varieties 
of one common species ; while the facts that have been 
observed tend to throw considerable doubt on the 
permanence of the distinctive marks, and to render it 
probable that: these may be nothing more than the 
effects of climate, of seasons, of sex, and of age. 
It is to be regretted that in subdividing the Linnean 
genus M. Cuvier should have given the name of Puto- 
rius to that section which comprehends the Common 
Weasel, the true Mustela of authors, transferring the 
latter title to the present group, which might have been 
more appropriately designated by the Latin name of 
