348 BACKBONED ANIMALS. 
NoTE.—The adaptation of the limbs in the sea-otter is extremely 
interesting and worthy of special attention, and an advantageous study 
would be a comparison of the limbs (Fig. 370) of different animals. 
Fic. 370.—Feet of various animals compared. 4, deer ; 8, ornithorhynchus ; 
C, otter; D, frog; £, seal. 
The common mink of this country (Fig. 371) attains a 
length of seventeen inches to the tail, which is eight inches 
longer. The body-color is a dark chestnut-brown, the 
tail black, and tip of the chin white. The marten or 
American sable (A/ustela) ranges from northern New 
York northward, and is much valued. It attains the 
same length as the common mink, the tail being about 
two inches longer. Its color is a rich, glistening, golden 
red, clouded with black ; the legs and tail are dark, a light 
patch appearing upon the throat; the feet are thickly 
furred. They burrow, and nest in old trees, and bring 
out a litter of from two to seven young in April. The 
fisher, or pekan, weasels, etc., are allies. The most fero- 
cious of the group is the glutton, or wolverine (Gude). It 
is confined to the cold regions of Europe, Asia, and North 
America, coming as far south as the Great Lakes. In the 
latter country it attains a length of three feet and a half 
to the tail, which is about one foot in length and extremely 
the sun, then scratch themselves on the limbs, twisting about in vari- 
ous ways, and when just out of the water they are so absorbed in their 
toilet that they can frequently be taken. The males and females show 
the greatest devotion, kissing and patting each other like human beings. 
The mother’s antics with the young are equally amusing ; she tosses it 
in the air, fondles it in her arms, catches it with her fore-feet like a ball, 
and swims about with it clasped to her breast. The Chinese train the 
sea-otter to fish, and many are used for the purpose. 
