FDRRY FRIENDS WITH PINE SKINS. 123 



not a reddish color like that of a fox, but a soft tone 

 nearly like that of a lion, but darker. The feet and 

 tail were darker, and the head lighter than the back. 

 Mr. B. K. Ross describes the color of the marten 

 thus : " In a large heap of skins which I have ex- 

 amined minutely there exists a great variety of shades 

 darkening from the rarer yellowish white and bright 

 orange into a variety of orange- browns considerably 

 clouded with black on the back and belly, and ex- 

 hibiting on the flanks and throat more of an orange 

 tint. The legs and paws, as well as the top of the 

 tail, are nearly pure black. The claws are white and 

 sharp. The ears are invariably edged with a yellow- 

 ish white, and the cheeks are generally of the same 

 hue. The forehead is of a light brownish gray, dark- 

 ening toward the nose, but in some specimens it is 

 nearly as dark as the body. The yellowish marking 

 under the throat (considered a specific distinction of 

 the pine marten) is in some cases well defined and 

 of an orange tint, while in others it is almost perfect- 

 ly white. It also varies much in extent, reaching to 

 the fore legs in some instances ; in others consisting 

 of merely a few spots, and in still others being en- 

 tirely wanting." 



The fur is variable, of course, according to season ; 

 in November it is in prime condition, and in winter 

 it still continues full and soft, about an inch or so 



