Refine^que on a Nero Species of Marten. 83 



to it the name of Mustela vulpina, or Fox Marten, owing to its 

 head and tail being somewhat similar to that of a fox. 



Mustela Vulpina. Definition — Brown, three large yellowish 

 spots underneath on the throat, breast, and belly ; cheeks, 

 inside of the ears, and a spot on the nape, white ; tail tipped 

 with white one-third of total length ; feet blackish, toes white. 



Description. — This animal is of a fine shape : its size is 

 rather above mediocrity, being about half a foot high, and the 

 total length being twenty-seven inches, whereof nine form the 

 tail. The general colour of the fur is of a drab brown, and it 

 is neither coarse nor very fine. The head is elongated, 

 oblong, about four inches long, shaped like that of a fox ; the 

 snout is narrow ; the nose is black, notched, and granulated, 

 furnished on each side with black whiskers, two inches long . 

 there are three long black hairs, or vibrissa, above each eye, 

 and a few shorter ones scattered behind them on the cheeks, 

 chin, and tip of the lower jaw, which is white : the cheeks are 

 whitish, and there is a white spot on the nape of the neck : 

 the ears are large, broad, and white inside. There are three 

 large, oblong spots, on the throat, breast, and belly ; this last 

 is the largest ; that on the breast the smallest. The fore legs 

 are shorter than the hind ones, and have, behind, three very 

 long hairs or vibrissa : the feet and toes of all the legs are 

 covered with Inng fur ; the former have a dark brown or 

 blackish ring, and the latter are of a dirty white : there are 

 five long toes to all the feet, of which the inner one is the 

 shortest ; the nails are white, retractible, and shorter than 

 the fur. The teeth are as in the genus Mustela, and white ; 

 those of the lower jaw are larger and stronger : the grinders 

 are four on each side ; they are broad, trifid, with the middle 

 lobe sharp and very long : the tusks, or dogteeth, are very 

 strong, curved, and approximated, leaving a very small place 

 for the incisores, which are very small, very short, and flat ; 

 the two lateral ones on each side are situated diagonally, the 

 second behind, and the two middle ones are only half the size 

 of the others. The tail is bushy, particularly at the top, 

 where there is a white pencil of long hairs ; the brown of tho 

 remainder is darker than on the bod v. 



