ORDER CARNASSIER. 37 



and is distinguished from the foregoing by having 

 hair even under the toes. It likewise inhabits 

 the most frozen mountains. The hunting of this 

 animal in the midst of winter, through eternal 

 snow, is one of the most painful of human la- 

 bours. The pursuit of sables first gave occa- 

 sion to the discovery of the eastern regions of 

 Siberia. 

 Northern America produces also many of the 

 marten tribe, which travellers and naturalists have 

 pointed out under the ill-defined appellations of 

 Pe/cm, Vison, Mink, Foutereau, &c. 



The species to which we apply the name of Vison 

 (Mustela Vison), is altogether brown, with the little 

 point of the chin white. The fur is remarkably 

 brilliant. It is found in Canada and the United 

 States. 



That which we shall name, Pekan, and which 

 eomes from the same countries, has the head, the 

 neck, the shoulders, and the top of the back, mixed 

 of gray and brown. The nose, the crupper, the 

 tail, and the limbs, are blackish. 

 Both have hair even under the toes. 



The Mouffettes (Mephitis) Cuv. 



Have, like the polecats, two false molars above and 

 three below, but their upper tuberculous tooth is 

 very large and as long as broad, and their inferior 

 carnivorous tooth has two tubercles on its internal 

 side, which approximates them to the badgers, as 

 the polecats approach the grisons and gluttons The 



