402 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



varying from bright orange to pale cream colour or yellowish white. 

 Breadth of the skull (see fig. 2, p. 471) across the zygomatic arches, 

 rather more than half the length ; the arches highest posteriorly, 

 whence they slope rather suddenly downwards and forwards. Sides 

 of muzzle nearly parallel ; anterior opening of nares oval ; post-orbital 

 process about equidistant between the frontal constriction and the 

 anterior root of the zygoma. Palate comparatively narrow, with a 

 distinct azygos process on its posterior margin. Upper premolars 

 placed regularly in the line of the series ; the fourth as long as the 

 upper molar is broad ; its inner cusp large and placed nearly at right 

 angles to the axis of the tooth. Upper molar broader than long, its 

 flattened inner portion considerably longer and larger than the outer 

 part ; in the latter the external tubercle fills the space between the 

 anterior and posterior tubercles, so that the external outline of the 

 tooth is slightly convex, not emarginated. First lower molar with a 

 slightly developed inner tubercle at the base of the main cusp. 



Martes foina. — Outer fur dull greyish brown, under fur greyish 

 white ; breast-spot, smaller than in M. sylvatica, pure white. Breadth 

 of the skull across the zygomatic arches, much more than half 

 the length ; the arches regularly curved, broadest and highest 

 near their middle. Sides of muzzle slightly converging ; anterior 

 opening of nares broader than in M. sylvatica, heart-shaped ; post- 

 orbital process nearer to the frontal constriction, than to the anterior 

 root of the zygoma. Palate comparatively broad, truncated posteriorly. 

 Upper premolars crowded, and often placed diagonally, their anterior 

 extremities being directed inwards ; the fourth considerably longer than 

 the upper molar is broad ; its inner cusp smaller, and placed more 

 diagonally than in M. sylvatica. Upper molar subquadrate, its flattened 

 inner portion hardly longer or larger than the outer part, in which the 

 external and anterior tubercles are placed close together, the external 

 outline of the tooth being distinctly emarginated between them and the 

 posterior tubercle. First lower molar with a well-developed inner 

 tubercle at the base of the main cusp. 



On the question whether both these species inhabit the British 

 Islands, Mr. Alston had to get over the fact that every previous 

 writer on the British fauna had either stated or assumed that 

 both are natives, and that (according to the majority) the white- 

 breasted Martes foina (the common Marten of the Continent) was 

 the commoner of the two. Again he had to deal with the view, 

 expressed by several good naturalists, that the forms, so far from 

 being distinct, were varieties of but one species, the variation in 



