132 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Genus Mustela Linnaeus 



1758 Mustela Linnaeus, Systerua naturae, ed. 10. 1 : 45. Type, by elimina- 

 tion Mustela martes Linnaeus. 

 Only the toes applied to ground in walking; body slender ; claws small, sLarp 

 pnrtly retractile; ears short; tail long, not conspicuously busby; teeth 38. 

 (M u s t 6 1 a ; L-at., a martin) 



The genus Mustela occurs throughout the forested boreal regions 

 of the northern hemisphere. About a dozen species are known. Four 

 of the five American forms occur within our limits. 



SPECIES OF MUSTELA 



Length over 760 (30) ; ear low, rounded (Fisher) M. pennanti 



Length under 760 (30); ear high, pointed (Martin) 



Greatest length of skull about 85 (3|). M. brumalis 



Greatest length of skull about 80 (3-^) 



General color light rich brown M. americana 



General color deep chocolate brown M. atrata 



Mustela pennanti Erxleben Fisher 



nn Mustela pennanti Erxleben, Syst. regn. anim. 1 : 470. (Eastern 

 Canada) 



Dark brown or blackish, darker on under parts; no pale throat patch / ears low 

 and rounded. Total leiigth, 890 (35) ; tail vertebrae, 355 (14) ; hind foot, 120 

 (4f )• (pennanti; name from that of Thomas Pennant) 



The fisher occurs in the boreal forests of North America from Maine 

 and southern Labrador west to the Pacific coast. The typical subspecies 

 M. pennanti pennanti is the only geographic race found within 

 our limits. 



Mustela brumalis Bangs North Labrador martin 



1898 Mustela brumalis Bangs. American naturalist. July 1898. 32 : 502. 

 (Okak Labrador) 

 Dimensions of skull (the only part of the animal now known) ; greatest length, 

 85 (3f ) ; width of muzzle across canines, 17.2 (14). (brumalis; Lat., wintery 

 northern) 



The north Labrador martin is known from three skulls collected at 

 Okak Labrador. 



Mustela americana Turton Eastern martin 



1800 Mustela americana Turton, System of nature. 1:60. (Eastern 

 North America) 



General color light rich brown, slightly paler on under parts ; throat usually 

 with a light (tawny or whitish) patch j ears high pointed. Total length, 610 (24); 



