24 
GENus MustEeva. Linn. 
Ktymology—Latin, Mustela, a Weasel. 
Type, Mustela martes, Linn. 
< Mustela, Linn., Syst. Nat., i, 10th ed., 1758. 
< Viverra, Shaw., Gen. Zool., i, 1800; not of authors. 
< Galo, H. Smith (fide Gray) ; not of Storr. 
= Maries, authors after Ray. 
> Pekania, J. HE. Gray, Proc. Zoodl. Soc. Lond., 1865, 107. (Type, @. 
pennantt.) 
> Foina, J. H. Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1865, 107. (Type, I. martes 
fagorum.) | 
> Charron, J. K Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1865, 108. (Type, M. 
flavigula. Bodd.) 
Generic Characters —Dentition: i. 23; c. >; pm. #7; m. $5—+3—38. 
(Same as Gulo; one more pre-molar, above and below on each side than 
in Putorius.) Sectorial tooth of lower jaw usually with an internal cusp ; 
form moderately stout; claws strong, curved, acute; tail longer than 
head, bushy, cylindrical, or tapering; soles densely furry, with naked 
pads ; pelage long end soft, but not shaggy; whole-colored, never whiten- 
ing in winter; progression digitigrade ; habits highly arboreal as well 
as terrestrial ; not aquatic. 
The Martens form the connecting link between the Wolverines and 
Weasels, in the sub-family Musteline. Twospecies are confined to North 
America—the Fisher CM. pennantt) and the Americ’zn Sable or Marten 
(M. americana); three species belong to the Old World. All yield furs of 
great value, and slight shades of color, having no classificatory value, 
are recognized by the furriers as distinct species, and the pelts sold at 
high prices, the most fashionable shade, of course, commanding the 
highest price. 
The Martens are agile and graceful in their movements, spend much 
of their time in trees ; they are strictly predacious, destroying many small 
mammals and birds, and even porcupines and raccoons; but are not so 
ferocious and bloodthirsty as the Weasels, which seem to destroy life 
without apparent object. 
MustELA PENNANTI. Erxl. 
PEKAN; PENNANT’S MARTEN; FISHER; BLaek Cat. 
1777. Mustela pennanti, Kirxl., Syst. An., 1777, 470, No. 10 (based on the 
Fisher of Pennant; for discussion of name, in question of priority 
over canadensis, Schreber, cf. Bd. op. infra. cit. p. 161).—Zimm., 
