250 



GENUS PUTORIUS.— Cuv. 



DENTAL FORMULA. 



Incisive g ; Canine j^j ; Molar ^zr- ^^ 34. 



There are two false molars above, and three below ; the great car- 

 nivorous tooth below, without an internal tubercle ; the tuberculous tooth 

 in the upper jaw, very long. 



Head, small and oval ; muzzle, short and blunt ; ears, short and round ; 

 body, long and vermiform ; neck, long ; legs, short ; five toes on each foot, 

 armed with sharp crooked claws ; tail, long and cylindrical. Animals of 

 this genus emit a fetid odour, and are nocturnal in habit ; they are separat- 

 ed from the martens in consequence of having one tooth less on each 

 side of the upper jaw ; their muzzle is also shorter and thicker than 

 that of the marten. The species are generally small in size, and seldom 

 climb trees like the true martens. 



There are about fifteen well determined species of this genus, six of 

 which belong to America, and the remainder to the Eastern continent. 



The generic name putorius is derived from the Latin word putor — a 

 fetid smell. 



PUTORIUS VISO N.— Linn, 



Mink. 



PLATE XXXIII. Male and Female. Natural size. 



P. fulvns, mente albo ; auribus curtis ; pedibus semi-palmatis ; cauda 

 corporis dimidiam longa. Mustela marte minor. 



CHARACTERS. 



Less than the pine marten; general colour, brown; chin white; ears 

 short ; feet semi-palmate ; tail, half the length of the body. 



