238 
ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 
over their chest and throat, and by the length of their 
tail, which considerably exceeded that of their hinder 
legs. Their colour during the winter was, with the 
exception of the throat and the margins of the ears 
(which were likewise yellow), of a deep chestnut with 
somewhat of a blackish tinge, and their hair extremely 
long and fine. The fore legs of one of them were 
crossed in front towards the upper part by a yellowish 
stripe. In summer they assumed a much lighter tinge, 
and their hair became so much shorter as to give them 
the appearance of being scarcely more than half their 
former bulk. The extremities of their toes, which had 
been well protected by lengthened wool throughout the 
cold weather, were also stripped of their covering and 
the claws completely exposed. In manners they were 
lively, active, and good humoured ; they slept much 
during the day, but frequently indulged in whirling 
themselves, half climbing and half leaping, round the 
inside of their cage with such rapidity as almost to 
elude the sight. 
The Museum in Bruton Street contains five more 
specimens of the group, besides those which obviously 
belong to distinct species from the animals under con- 
sideration. Two of these, both British, may fairly be 
referred to the Beech Marten in its winter and summer 
dress. The former has the long hairs of a fulvous 
brown, few in number, and interspersed in a dense 
cinereous fur; those of the tail and legs are blackish 
brown ; the toes are slightly hairy beneath, but the 
claws project considerably. The sides of the head are 
paler, and the throat and chest dirty white, with no 
intermixture of yellow or brown. In the other the 
hairs of the body are very short ; the fur is much less 
dense ; the general colour is of a paler brown, extending 
to the legs and tail which are but little darker; the 
