132 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Genus Mustela Linnaeus 



1758Mustela Liunaeus, Systema naturae, ed. 10. 1:45. Type by elimina- 

 tion Mustela martos Linuaeus. 

 Only the toes applied to gronnd in walking/ body .^lender : claws ^mall, sbarp, 

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

 (Must<51a; Lat., 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 MtSTELA 



Length over 760 (30J ; ear low, rounded (Fisber) M. peuuanti 



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



Greatest length of skull about 85 (3^). M. b r um a li s 



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 



1777 Mustela pennanti Erxleben, Syst. regu. anim. 1:470. (Eastern 

 Canada) 

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

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

 (*4)' (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 M u s te la b r um a 1 is Bangs. American naturalist. July 1S9K. 32:502. 

 (Okak Liibrador) 

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

 85 (3f ) ; width of muzzle across canines, 17.2 (IJ). (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 Tnrton, System of nature. 1:60. (Eastern 

 North America) 



General color ligtit rich hrow 11, slightly paler on under parts ; throat usually 

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



