Helictis.-Dentition: i, c1, p 4, m; total 38. Upper carnassial with a large bicuspid inner tubercle; upper molar smaller, wider transversely than in the antero-posterior direction. Lower carnassial with talon about one-third the length of the tooth. Skull elongated, rather narrow and depressed. Facial portion especially narrow. Infraorbital foramen

FIG. 265.-Helictis personata. (From Blanford, Mammalia of British snout. Ears

India, p. 175.)

small. Body elongated. Limbs short. Tail short or moderate, bushy. Several species are described (H. orientalis, personata [Fig. 265], moschata, subaurantiaca), all from Eastern Asia; they are all small animals compared with the other members of the subfamily, climbing trees with agility and living much on fruit and berries as well as on small mammals and birds. The two first named species occur in British India, H. orientalis also ranging into Java; the Chinese H. subaurantiaca is brilliantly coloured in the region of the throat.

FIG. 266.-Left lateral and superior aspect of the brain of Helictis sabaurantiaca. (From Garrod, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1879, p. 307.)

The brain of Helictis, represented in the accompanying figure, shows the general type of cerebral structure characteristic of the Mustelida. The brain of this genus differs, however, from that of every other Carnivore in that the hippocampal gyrus rises to the surface on either side of the great longitudinal fissure, in 1 Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1831, p. 94. 2 Garrod, ibid. 1879, pl. xxix.

consequence of which there is no crucial fissure, and the so-called "Ursine lozenge," so characteristic of the Arctoidea, is incomplete behind. The superior gyrus, as in Ictonyx and Mustela, ceases at the superior posterior angle of the hemisphere.

Ietonyx.-Dentition: i, c, p3, m; total 34. In general characters the teeth much resemble those of the Polecats (Mustela), being more delicately cut and sharply cusped than in most of the foregoing. Upper molar smaller than the carnassial, narrow from before backwards. Lower carnassial with a small narrow talon and distinct inner cusp. General form of body Musteline. Limbs short. Fore feet large and broad, with five stout, nearly straight, blunt, and non-retractile claws, of which the first and fifth are considerably shorter than the others. Tail moderate, with longer hairs towards the end, giving it a bushy appearance. Hairs generally long and loose. The best-known species of this genus, I. zorilla, the Cape Polecat, was placed by Cuvier in the genus Mustela, and by Lichtenstein in Mephitis; and in many characters it forms a transition between these genera. It is about the size of an English Polecat, but conspicuous by its coloration, having broad, longitudinal bands of dark brown, alternating with white. Its odour is said to be as offensive as that of the American Skunks. From the Cape of Good Hope it ranges as far north as Senegal. Another species, I. frenata, from Sennaar and Egypt, has been described.

Subfamily Mustelina.-Toes short, partially webbed; claws short, compressed, acute, curved, often semiretractile. Upper molar of moderate size, wide transversely. Kidneys simple. Terrestrial and arboreal in habits.

Galictis.2-Dentition: i, c, p,m; total 34. Molars small but stout. Upper carnassial with the inner tubercle near the middle of the inner border of the tooth. Lower carnassial with talon small, and inner cusp small or absent. Body long. Limbs short; claws non-retractile. Palms and soles naked. Head broad and depressed. Tail of moderate length. The best-known species are G. vittata, the Grison (genus Grisonia, Gray), and G. barbara, the Tayra (genus Galera, Gray), both South American; G. allamandi is an intermediate form.

Remains of Galictis occur in the Pleistocene cavern-deposits of Brazil, and also in the Pleistocene of North America.

3-4

Mustela.-Dentition: i, c, pm; total 34 or 38. Upper carnassial with inner tubercle close to the anterior edge of the tooth. Molar nearly as large as carnassial. Lower carnassial with small or no inner cusp. Vertebræ C7, D 14, L 6, S 3, C 18-23. Body long and slender. Limbs short, digitigrade. Feet

Kaup, Thierreich, vol. i. p. 352 (1835). 2 Bell, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1837, p. 45. 3 Linn. Syst. Nat. 12th ed. vol. i. p. 66 (1766).

rounded; toes short, with compressed, acute, semiretractile claws. Tail moderate or long, more or less bushy.

The genus Mustela, as restricted by Cuvier (Règne Animal, 1817), contains a very natural assemblage of animals commonly called Martens, Sables, Polecats, Stoats, Ermines, and Weasels, all closely allied in structure and habits. A structural division, however, occurs between the two first-named and all the others, especially shown in the presence of an additional small premolar tooth on each side of the jaw; and, availing himself of this and some other minor characters, Cuvier divided the genus into two subgenera, for the first of which he retained the name of Mustela, and to the second assigned that of Putorius. Three years later Nilsson (Skand. Fauna, 1820) definitely constituted the two groups into genera, applying to the first the name of Martes, by which the animals composing it had been generally designated by the Latin-writing zoologists of the preceding century, and keeping Mustela for the more typical Weasels and their immediate allies. Later zoologists have been divided between the nomenclature of Cuvier, which has the priority, and that of Nilsson, which on other grounds is preferable. Those who adopt the latter affirm that Cuvier's names, being only used by him in a subgeneric sense, and not binominally, need not be applied generically, but this is contrary to the practice usually followed in such cases; and therefore, if the original genus be divided, the name Mustela should be retained for the Martens, and Putorius for the Polecats and Weasels. Here, however, the genus will be employed in its wider sense, and divided into two groups.

1

The typical group of the Martens presents the following distinctive features. Body long, slender, and very flexible, though less so than in the true Weasels. Head somewhat triangular; muzzle pointed, the nose extending a little beyond the lips; eyes large and prominent; ears conspicuous, broad, somewhat triangular, rounded at the ends, furred outside and in. Limbs short; feet rounded; toes short, five on each foot, all with short, compressed, curved, sharp-pointed claws; soles densely furred between the naked pads. Tail moderately long, more or less bushy. Outer fur long, strong, and glossy; a very abundant soft under fur. Skull elongated and depressed. Facial portion moderate and rather compressed. Zygomata arched and wide, but slender. Postorbital processes small. Auditory bullæ large, but not very globose. Mandible with a strong triangular vertical coronoid process and a well-developed angular process. Premolars Upper incisors in a straight transverse line, rather long and

1 By all old authors of authority, as Ray, Pennant, Shaw, and Fleming, the word is written “Martin,” but this form of spelling is now generally reserved by way of distinction for the bird. The term "Marten - Cat," often used, is a misnomer.

compressed; first and second subequal, third considerably larger. Lower incisors very small, especially the first, and crowded together, the second placed rather behind the others. Canines long and sharp-pointed. Upper premolars: first very small, with simple crown and one root; second and third nearly equal in size and two-rooted, with simple compressed sharp-pointed crowns, with very slightly developed accessory cusps; fourth (the carnassial) with blade consisting chiefly of the central and posterior lobes, the anterior being rudimentary, inner tubercle small and confined to the anterior part of the tooth. True molar tubercular, about twice as wide transversely as in the antero-posterior direction, having an outer, more elevated, but smaller portion, bearing three blunt tubercles; to the inner side of this the crown is contracted, and its surface deeply hollowed; it then expands again into a broad low lobe, with the central part elevated, and a raised, even, semicircular, slightly crenated internal border. Lower premolars : first very small, simple, and one-rooted; second, third, and fourth increasing slightly in size, with high compressed pointed crowns and posterior accessory cusps, best marked in the third. First molar (carnassial) with well-marked bilobed blade, talon scarcely more than one-third of the length of the tooth, and a very small inner cusp. Second molar small, single-rooted, with a low, flattened, subcircular or oval tubercular crown.

In geographical distribution the Martens are limited to the northern hemisphere, ranging throughout the greater part of the temperate regions of both Old and New Worlds, as far north as conditions of existence suited to their habits are met with, and southwards in America to 35° N. lat., while in Asia one species is met with as far in this direction as the island of Java.

The various species appear to be very similar in their habits. They live in woods and rocky places, and are thoroughly arboreal, spending most of their time in trees, although descending to the ground in quest of prey. They climb with great facility, and are agile and graceful in their movements. Some species are said occasionally to resort to berries and other fruit for food, but as a rule they are strictly carnivorous, feeding chiefly on birds and their eggs, small mammals, as squirrels, hares, rabbits, and moles, but chiefly mice of various kinds, of which they destroy great numbers, and occasionally snakes, lizards, and frogs. In proportion to their size they are among the most bloodthirsty of animals, though less so than the true Weasels. The female usually makes her nest of moss, dried leaves, and grass in the hollow of a tree, but sometimes in a hole among rocks or ruined buildings, and produces several young at a birth, usually from four to six. Though wild and untameable to a great degree if captured when fully grown, when taken young they are very docile, and have frequently been made

pets of, not having the strong unpleasant odour of the smaller Mustelida. The common European Marten appears to have been partially domesticated by the Greeks and Romans, and to have been used to keep houses clear from rats and mice before cats were introduced. In the same way, according to Hodgson, the Yellowbellied Weasel (M. cathia) "is exceedingly prized by the Nipalese for its service in ridding houses of rats. It is easily tamed; and

such is the dread of it common to all Murine animals that not one will approach a house where it is domiciled." It is, however, to the great value attached to the pelts of these animals that their importance to man is chiefly due. Though all yield fur of serviceable quality, the commercial value varies immensely, not only according to the particular species from which it is obtained, but according to individual variation, depending upon age, sex, season, and other trifling circumstances. The skins from northern regions are more full and of a finer colour and gloss than those from more temperate climates, as are those of animals killed in winter compared with the same individuals in the summer season. The caprices of fashion have, moreover, set wholly factitious values upon slight shades of colour, recognised and named by experienced furriers, but not indicating any specific or other distinctions of which zoologists have any cognisance. Enormous numbers of animals are annually caught, chiefly in traps, to supply the demand of the fur trade, Siberia and North America being the principal localities from which they are obtained.

With the exception of the Pekan (M. pennanti) all the Martens are so much alike in size, general colouring, and cranial and dental characters that the discrimination of the species, and assignment of the proper geographical distribution to each, has been a subject which has sorely perplexed the ingenuity and patience of zoologists. The following description by Dr. Elliott Coues of the external characters of the American Pine Marten (M. americana) will apply almost equally well to most of the others: "It is almost impossible to describe the colour of the Pine Marten, except in general terms, without going into the details of the endless diversities occasioned by age, sex, season, or other incidents. The animal is 'brown,' of various shades from orange or tawny to quite blackish; the tail and feet are ordinarily the darkest, the head lightest, often quite whitish; the ears are usually rimmed with whitish; on the throat there is usually a large tawny-yellowish or orange-brown patch, from the chin to the fore legs, sometimes entire, sometimes broken into a number of smaller, irregular blotches, sometimes wanting, sometimes prolonged on the whole under surface, when the animal is

1 See Rolleston, "On the Domestic Cats, Felis domesticus and Mustela foina, of Ancient and Modern Times," Journal of Anatomy and Physiology, vol. ii. p. 47, 1868.