AMERICAN MAETEN. 109 



The price of this skin varies considerably, and has 

 much depreciated in value of late years, the present 

 value being 2s. 3d. to 42s. The first quality furs are 

 sorted by the Hudson's Bay Company into large dark, 

 small dark, large pale, and small pale ; the seconds are 

 more numerous, and of all shades. There are also 

 third, and sometimes fourth qualities. 



Most American Martens are trapped. Many Martens 

 are destroyed by Lynxes ; therefore, when the latter are 

 abundant, the Martens generally diminish. 



This animal is closely allied to the Baum or Pine 

 Marten, and by some naturalists it is considered the 

 same animal. 



The general colour is rich brown, but it is sometimes 

 of a light yellow colour, and more rarely almost black. 

 The last-named are highly prized, and are found in the 

 East Main and Port George districts of the Hudson's 

 Bay Company. There are many intermediate shades, 

 many of which are of a rich orange tint. The soft under 

 fur is drab; the longer hairs of the back are darker 

 than the rest of the body; the throat, except in the 

 brown and dark brown animals, is -covered with white 

 or light brown patches; the tail, which is thick and 

 bushy, is of the same shade as the body, but the longer 

 hairs at the tip are generally dark brown. Sometimes 

 the extreme tip of the tail is white. The feet and legs 

 are dark brown, except in the lighter-coloured animals 

 the paws are sometimes white ; the ears are short, and 

 white inside; the sides of the cheeks are also white; 

 the whiskers are black. Very light-coloured examples 

 are also found, almost the colour of Kolinsky. Others 

 are sprinkled with silvery-white hairs, almost like 

 a Eussian Sable. 



Slate-coloured animals like dark Stone Martens are 



