100 



THE NATUJIALIST. 



long j height at the shoulder seven and a half inches ; weight two pounds 

 four ounces. Its hair is of a long soft and silky texture, and in colour is 

 one uniform rich dark fawn, with the exception of the tail and abdomen ; the 

 former being darker at the tip- — the latter partaking more of a slaty tinge. 

 The breast, throat and cheeks are of the usual pinky salmon colour. It is yet 

 I believe, a mooted question as to whether Martes abietum and M. Foina, are 

 distinct species. The chief, and in many cases, the only distinction, according 

 to some observers is in the difierence of the throat which in is yellow, 



and M. Foina white ; and hence arises the diversity of opinion which is to 

 be met with on the subject, for these featiu'es are so variable at different times 

 that through age, change of season, or other natural causes, the rich tint of 

 the former animal gradually fades into and assumes the lighter colour of the 

 latter ; and vice versa, the latter that of the former. Such a method therefore 

 of distinguishing them, if not entii-ely discarded, must be at least held 

 subservient to greater and less arbitrary differences that exist between them, 

 which on a strict comparative analysis will be found abundantly palpable, 

 and now, generally admitted by all those who have had an opportunity of 

 carefully comparing the two together. The general appearance of 

 the respective animals wUl be found widely to differ. M, Foina 

 is markedly greater in bulk than M. abietum, and possesses to outward 

 appearances a more robust and wiry constitution ; as is shown by its shorter 

 and proportionably stronger limbs, the heavier body, and deeper chest. Its 

 head too, is rounder and fuller, and its snout less pointed than that of M. 

 abietum, which is acute and greatly resembles the common rat Mus 

 decumanus. 



It is also affirmed, but I have had no opportunity of proving or dis- 

 proving the assertion myself, that the Beech Martin is more prolific than its 

 congener the Pine Martin, which, if correct, "at once establishes the distinc- 

 tion of the species." If these deductions be true, and I believe them to be 

 so, I am not prepared to place M. Foina in the Mustelidce of I^'orthumber- 

 land, as it has not to my knowledge been met with in. the county. Like the 

 Pine Martin it may be considered rare amongst British quadrupeds ; and 

 except in a few of our more wooded and rocky English counties, where a 

 few still linger : the extensive pine forests of Caledonia or the wooded 

 mountainous districts of Wales must be traversed to meet with them in 

 anything like their pristine numbers. 



Alnwick, July 1865. 



