296, CLASS MAMMALIA. 



aquatic in its habits. It is larger than the Polecat, and of 

 a beautiful chestnut colour, except the point of the chin, 

 which is white. In size and shape it corresponds with the 

 Common Martens. Its paws are covered with hair to the 

 nails ; and are semipalmated, not altogether palmated, as 

 stated by Gmelin, which probably induced Dr. Shaw to 

 place it with the Otters {Lutra Vison). It is probably the 

 Minx of Lawson. 



The American Martens are still in some obscurity, and 

 some species have probably been confounded. This, by the 

 disposition of its colours, approaches very nearly to the 

 Martes Lutreola of the north of Europe, and has been often 

 confounded with it, although Cuvier has placed the Martes 

 Lutreola along with the Polecats, and this with the true 

 Martens. The most striking distinction between the two is 

 in the brown-black tail, and the point of the lower jaws only 

 being white, not like the Martes Lutreola, where both the 

 upper lip, and the chin, and neck, are white all through. 

 They appear to agree very much in habits, and in the cha- 

 racter of the semipalmated feet covered with hair. 



They are generally found on the edge of rivers, and 

 burrow under the ground. They feed principally on Fish, 

 Water-birds, Rats, and the eggs of Tortoises, 8fC. ; but they 

 sometimes approach the houses. The female brings forth 

 three or six young at a time. 



The Pekan Weasel, (Mustela Canadenis. L.) is an Ame- 

 rican species of the Marten family of the old world, with 

 which it corresponds in all the specific characters. It is, 

 in general, about eighteen inches long, and the tail mea- 

 sures about a foot. 



This animal inhabits holes in the banks of rivers ; and 

 feeds more especially on such small quadrupeds as live near 

 the water, and on fish. 



The head, neck, shoulders, and upper part of the back 

 are varied with gray and brown hairs ; the nose, back of 



