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Show 1879.] MR. E. R. ALSTON ON THE BRITISH MARTENS. 469 II. MARTES FOINA. 31ustela foina, Erxleben, Syst. Reg. An. p. 458 (1777)1. Martes foina, Nilsson, Faun. Skand. (1st ed.) i. p. 38 (1820). fagorum, Fleming, Brit. Animals, p. 14, ex Ray (1828). The cranial and dental characters by which Martes sylvatica and M. foina may be recognized were first pointed out by Dr. R. Hensel in 1853 2, further elaborated by Blasius in 1857 3, and recently revised by Dr. Elliott Coues in comparison with their American congeners4. At various times I have carefully compared the descriptions of these writers with a great number of skulls; and although many of the distinctions which they have pointed out are merely comparative, and though some of them prove to be inconstant when a large series of specimens are examined, yet I have never found the slightest difficulty in separating the species by the following external and internal characters :- Martes sylvatica. Outer fur rich dark brown, under-fur reddish grey, with clear reddish-yellow tips ; breast-spot usually yellow, varying from bright orange to pale cream-colour or yellowish white. Breadth of the skull (see fig. 2, p. 471) across the zygomatic arches rather more than half the length; the arches highest posteriorly, whence they slope rather suddenly downwards and forwards. Sides of muzzle nearly parallel; anterior opening of nares oval; postorbital process about equidistant between the frontal constriction and the anterior root of the zygoma. Palate comparatively narrow, with a distinct azygos process on its posterior margin. Upper premolars placed regularly in the line of the series ; the fourth as long as the upper molar is broad, its inner cusp large and placed nearly at right angles to the axis of the tooth. Upper molar broader than long, its flattened inner portion considerably longer and larger than the outer part; in the latter the external tubercle fills the space between the anterior and posterior tubercles, so that the external outline of the tooth is simply convex, not emarginated. First lower molar with a slightly developed inner tubercle at the base of the main cusp. Martes foina. Outer fur dull greyish brown, under-fur greyish white; breast-spot smaller than in 31. sylvatica, pure white. Breadth of the skull (see fig. 1, p. 470) across the zygomatic arches much more than half the length; the arches regularly curved, broadest and highest near their middle. Sides of muzzle slightly converging ; anterior opening of nares broader than in M. sylvatica, heart-shaped ; postorbital process nearer to the frontal constriction than to the anterior root of the zygoma. Palate comparatively broad, truncated posteriorly. Upper premolars crowded, and often placed diagonally, their anterior extremities being directed inwards; the fourth considerably longer than 1 Dr. Elliott Coues, in his 'Fur-bearing Animals' (p. 77) gives M.foina as instituted by " White, Phil. Trans, lxiv. 1774, 196", having seemingly been misled by some reference to Gilbert White's celebrated Monograph of the House- Martin (Hirundo urbica)! 2 Arch. f. Naturg. xix. i. pp. 17-22, pi. ii. 3 Saugeth. Deutschl., pp. 211-219. 4 Fur-bearing Animals, pp. 74-80, pis. iii., iv. |