154 
IT. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY-GENERAL REPORT. 
The skull, too, of the female appears a little different in the specimens compared; the cranium 
of the male being more con ’ acted in proportion, and the head generally narrower than in the 
female. This may, however, be merely the effect of age. 
Measurements. 
M. rnartes, Sweden. 
549. 
550. 
379. 
Inches. 
Lines. 
lOOths of 
length. 
Inches. 
| Lines. 
lOOths of 
length. 
Inches. 
Lines. 
lOOths of 
length. 
Nose to root of tail.. _. _ 
17 
14 
23 
Nose to end of outstretched' hind legs_,_ 
22 
19 
Tail, from root to end of vertebrae_ 
6 
9 
4 
9 
6 
Tail, from root to end of hairs 
10 
3 
8 
5 
13 
6 
Skull, length_ _ 
3. 12 
100 
2.74 
100 
3. 60 
100 
Skull, width __ . _ 
1. 57 
50 
1.40 
51 
1. 95 
64 
A good deal has been written upon the relationships or differences of the martens of Europe 
and America. A series of several specimens from Sweden, collected at the same season of the 
year with the Adirondac specimens, furnish the following comparisons. 
The Swedish specimens are much larger, although the skulls appear to indicate the same age. 
The fur is harsher and coarser, and the prevailing tints paler ; the tail and feet are not very 
dark brown, instead of being almost black. The color of the fur at the base is lighter. The 
throat patch does not touch the fore legs. 
The tails of the European specimens appear longer in proportion to the body, and there is a 
decided difference in the extent of the naked balls on the ends of the toes, which in the 
European are distinctly visible or but partially concealed, while in the American it is only after 
the most careful examination that anything of the kind can be detected. Differences in the 
skull are still more tangible, and seem quite characteristic. These are shown in an annexed 
table. 
The sable, M. zibellina has as yet not been definitely ascertained to belong to this continent, 
though the American marten is called sable in New York and the fur countries, bearing this 
name also in the trade. The true sable is readily distinguishable by the short tail, which does 
not extend as far as the end of the outstretched hind feet, and by the balls of the toes covered 
entirely with woolly fur. Its colors, however, though darker, are not very dissimilar to the 
American marten. 
In some respects, as in certain features of the skull and teeth, the American marten approxi¬ 
mates to the beech marten, M. foina, more than to the European true marten. The beech 
marten can, however, be known by tbe naked pads on the soles as well as the toes ; the whiter 
spot on the throat, (not so yellowish,) &c. 
