MAMMALIA. 



. 29 



have been slate-coloured originally, and have faded. The white breast extends to the fore-legs, 

 and covers the whole breast and throat. 



A skull extracted from one of these skins afforded the measurements marked (c) in the 

 preceding table. This differs from the Turkestan skull more than the Cabul specimen does, 

 being much broader across the zygomatic arches, and having a more convex frontal region. 



The second Asiatic species referred to above is M. intermedia, of Severtzoff. 1 This 

 name is given to specimens said to be intermediate in character between M. abietum and M . 

 foina ; the only intermediate character specified, however, is the colour of the throat. Severtzoff 

 mentions some skins shown to him as " Kashgar sable," with peculiarly fine fur, and these 

 may, perhaps, have been the same as the Eastern Turkestan species ; but the underfur is said 

 to have been darker than in Western Turkestan skins of M. abietum and M. foina, and the tail 

 shorter, in this approaching the sable. In neither character do the specimens from Eastern 

 Turkestan obtained by Drs. Stoliczka and Scully, nor the supposed Bokhara (or Cabul) skins in 

 the Indian Museum agree with Severtzoff's descriptions. 



Altogether I can only conclude that the marten of Eastern Turkestan is a race just 

 distinguishable from M. foina, and that M. intermedia and M. touf&a are probably other races. 

 Whether such forms should be considered specifically distinct or merely varieties is a difficult 

 question, depending rather on convenience than facts. The present form can be either 

 classed as Martes leucolachncea, a sub-species or race of M. foina, or as M. foina var. Probably 

 the martens, like the cats, comprise a large number of incipient species, imperfectly differen- 

 tiated. This is Severtzoff's view also. 



According to Pallas, 2 M. foina is only found in the extreme west of Siberia, but Severtzoff 

 includes it in the fauna of Western Turkestan, and Pere David obtained it in Northern 

 China, 3 so that the occurrence of a variety in Eastern Turkestan is highly probable. 



Skins of JH. abietum are said by Dr. Leith Adams 4 to be brought from Afghanistan, and 

 sold in the bazaar of Peshawar ; but it is not improbable that pale skins of M. leucolachncea 

 or M. intermedia may have been taken for those of the pine-marten, and specimens bought 

 in a bazaar may be brought from a great distance, so that the purchase of these skins in Ladak 

 and Yarkand by no means prove that they inhabit the country. M. abietum is not recorded 

 amongst the Chinese mammals by Pere David. 



19. Martes totjf^ea ? 



Hodgson, J. A. S. B., 1842, XI, p. 281. 



1, 2, skins (without skulls, and one without feet) purchased at Leh. 



At first I was disposed to consider these two skins merely specimens of the last, killed in 

 summer ; but there is a considerable difference in the fur, both in colouration and texture, and 

 the feet of the present species have the soles more completely covered with hair, the pads 

 left being very small. The colour is much paler, although the underfur is darker, the fur is 

 shorter and much less glossy, and the white of the throat more extended. 



The general colour is rather pale sepia-brown with a greyish tinge (almost earthy-brown) 

 throughout the body, the underfur towards the ends being the same colour as the longer piles, 



1 Turk. Jev., pp. 61, 80, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 1876, Ser. 4, Vol. xviii, p. 46. 



2 Zoog. Eos. As., i, p. 87. 



3 Nouv. Arch. du. Mus., vii, Bulletin, p. 92. 



4 P. Z. S., 1858, p. 517. Since the above was in print, I have received a skin of M. leucolachncea from Major St. John. This 

 skin came from Hazara. 



H 



