Sub-Family MUSTELINiE. 
Gends Mustela. 
THE PINE MARTEN. 
Mustela martes, Linnaeus. 
Plate 19. 
Two species of Marten were at one time believed to inhabit the British 
Islands, namely the Beech Marten, m. foina, and the Pine Marten, m. 
abietum, as described by Bell in his 'British Quadrupeds, and it was not 
until 1879 that the late E. A. Alston was able to prove that we have 
only one, the Pine Marten. 
This species differs from the white-breasted Beech Marten of the 
more southern parts of Continental Europe, in having a narrower skull, 
while the coat is darker and the breast usually orange or yellowish white. 
As the latter becomes paler and often white when the animal grows 
older, our Marten was frequently confused with the other, though not 
by observant naturalists like Charles St. John, who long ago stated his 
belief that we had only one. 
In colour, the outer fur of the Pine Marten is a rich glossy 
brown, under fiir warm grey, the legs and feet a deep brown. The 
length of head and body about 21 inches, the tail (including hairs) 12 
inches. 
This species has a wide range over northern Europe and Asia, and 
at one time was common in many parts of the British Islands, though 
now much restricted in distribution and numbers. 
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