24 



Genus Mustela. Linn. 



Etymology — Latin, Mustela, a Weasel. 

 Type, Mustela martes, Linn. 



< Mudr'/a. Linn., Syst. Nat., i, 10th ed., 1758. 



< TV««rr./, S'law., Gen. Zool., i,4800; not of author.-^. 

 <; Gala, H. Smith (fide Gray) ; not of Storr. 



= Martei, authors after Ray. 



> PelMuin, J. E. Gray, Proc. Zool. Boc. Lond., 1865. 107. (Type, M. 



pen'tianti.~) 



> Foina, J. E. Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. Load., 1865, 107. (Type, M. martes 



fugoruiii.^ 



> Charronia, J. E Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1865, 108. (Type, M. 



flavigula. Bodd.) 



Generic Characters. — Dentition: i. |:|-; c. \z\; pm. ^zl; m. ^1^=5-0^^8. 

 (Same as Gulo; one more pre-molar, above and below on each side than 

 in Putorius.') Sectorial tooth of lower jaw usually with an internal cuisp ; 

 form modeiattlj' stout ; claws strong, -curved, acute ; tail lon;.'er than 

 head, bushy, cylindrical, or tapering; soles densely furry, with naked 

 pads; peluge long tnd soft, but not shaggy; whole-colorf d, never whiten- 

 ing in winter; progression digitigrade ; habits highly arboreal as wetl 

 as terrestrial ; not aquatic. 



The Martens form the connecting link between the Wolverines and 

 Weasels, in the sub-family Musteline-. Two species are confined to Xerth 

 America — the Fisher (ilf. pennanti) and the American Sable or Marten 

 {M. a'tnericand) ; three species belong to the Old World. All yield furs of 

 great value, and slii;ht shades of color, having no classificutorj' value, 

 are recognized by the furriers as distinct species, and the pults sold at 

 high prices, the most fashionable shade, of course, commanding the 

 highest price. 



The Martens are agile and graceful in their movemf-nts, spend much 

 of their time in trees ; they are strictlj' jsredacious, destroying many smuU 

 mammals and birds, and even porcupines and raccoons; but aie not so 

 ferocious and bloodthirsty as the Weasels, which s;iem to de-stroy life 

 without apparent object. 



Mustela pennanti. Erxl. 

 Pekan ; Pennant's Makten ; Fishrr ; Black Oat. 



1777. M^i.^iela pennanti, Erxl., Syst. An., 1777, 470, No. 10 (based on the 

 Fisher of Pennant ; for discussion of name, in question of priority 

 over canadensis, Schreber, cf. Bd. op. infra, cit. p. 151). — Zimm,, 



