62 Field and Forest Rambles. 



the more pronounced is the black dorsal stripe. The smallest 

 specimens are generally the darkest, with often a greyish- 

 white front patch, and only a faint tinge of yellow on 

 the hips ; in fact, the description of the Russian sable by 

 Brandt * differs in no way as regards coloration from the 

 sable of this region. The hair on the head, neck, and throat 

 is bushy and very light coloured in winter, so that when the 

 animal faces you the darker hind parts become more or less 

 hidden, and thus advantageous towards sneaking on its prey. 

 Moreover the margins and inside of the ears are pure white, 

 giving a very attractive aspect to the handsome creature when 

 on the alert. I fancy a hare would with difficulty discern 

 the sable on snow when in this position. The orange throat 

 patch is always varying both in richness and extent : some- 

 times it is brilliant saffron, often with dark markings inter- 

 mixed, and not unfrequently yellowish-white ; at all events 

 all the yellow seen on this marten attains the deepest hues 

 on the throat patch, and on the flanks and sides of the belly, 

 the first coming to a point between the fore legs. 



It is evident from the descriptions given by Baird of the 

 American sable that the diagnosis he attempts to establish 

 between it and the M. Zibellina will not apply to the animal 

 found in this region, which in all particulars, excepting in 

 the fur being less dense, is seemingly in no other respect 

 different from the Asiatic and European animal, — at least, as 

 described by the above eminent Russian zoologist. At most 

 the American can only be called " a yellower or more yellowish 

 brown, and less densely furred variety of the Asiatic sable ; it 

 is surely not a distinct species, nor is the dark variety a pine 

 marten (M. Martes), seeing that specimens are as black as any 

 described by European authors. Regarding the seasonal 

 changes, as will be pointed out in the sequel, it is a general 

 rule with all the quadrupeds of this region, either in the chang- 



* "Beitrage Saugethiere Russland," 1855. 



