10 GILPIN — OX NOYA SCOTIAN MAMMALS. 



easily tamed, and show marks of great aifection ; whilst 

 Audubon says of those kept by him, they were surly aud 

 morose, feeding greedily and skulking away in their cages. 

 It brings forth three or four 3'oung at a birth, for which it con- 

 structs a nest in the hollow of a tree. Never very plent}", they 

 are rapidly loecoming extinct in our Province ; from a hundred 

 and fifty to two hundred are the very utmost now taken yearly ; 

 these chiefly come from the high wild region of the Cobequid 

 hills in Cumberland. Dr. Richardson gives to this weasel the 

 specific name of " Canadensis,'''' quoting Schreber, whilst Dr. 

 Baird (Smithsonian Institute) gives '■'■Pennanti,^' from Erxleben, 

 Schreber, dating 1778, Erxleben, 1777, and the doubt is further 

 increased by Schrebers's great work having been many years in 

 publishing — the title page being published previously to much 

 of the text. One is pleased that the doubt is throv/u in favour 

 of the great Welch naturalist, whose name is thus justly retained 

 tor this large and magnificent arboreal weasel. 



MusTELA Americana. — (Turton,) American Maiiin. 



Of seven hunters' skins obtained from Mr. Thomas, fur merchant, 

 Halifax, the following is a description : — No. 1 and 2 are dark mahogany 

 brown, almost black, from the nose to the tail, the brown showing a little more 

 on the sides, the tails are black at the root, a brown ring about the middle, 

 then black at the tip. The faces of both are black, the ears dusky inside 

 and out, but with a conspicuous white rim of very fine hair ; beneath, the 

 chins of each are blackish brown, a broad orange spot mixed in with black 

 hairs, upon the throat, runs down between the fore legs; all the legs brownish 

 black, and the belly and flanks, similar to, but rather brighter than back. The 

 hair is coarse and shining, and very long at tip of tail. 



No, 3 may be classed with No 1 and 2, but with less black on the back, 

 but face pale greyish, orange spot on throat, much less vivid. 



No. 4, 5, 6, 7. The same as regards size of ears, tail and legs, but the 

 black on the back has faded into a dusky streak, the faces light ash with a 

 brown wash, and a rich orange wash pervading the whole skin. The orange 

 spot beneath the throat, very bright, almost fulvous, and running into the 

 belly and lower side of the tail. 



In another, the tail was bright brownish yellow, with black tip. 



Thus we find two dark brown with dark faces, and five with more or less 

 grey faces. The tail, legs, and rim of ears, coinciding in all. The orange 

 throat accompanying the pale faces. I have never seen the animal in life, but 

 from a mounted specimen belonging to Mr. C. Kaizer, Halifax, we have a 

 hiffh rounded Lack, triangular head, and very robust and well-covered limbs 

 and tail. Entire length to tip of tail 24g ins. length of tail 8 inches. 



