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 JK. 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 j but the underfill 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 I)rs. 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. toufcea 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 Maries 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 M. 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. le/ucolachncee 
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. Mahtes totjfvEA ? 
Hodgson, J. A. S. B., 1812, 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. 
* Nouv. Arch. du. Mas., 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 
