Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 15.djvu/604

Rh 576 M A R T E a small but well-defined section of the family Mustelidx, belonging to the Arctoid or Bear-like division of the order Carnivora (see MAMMALIA, pp. 439, 440 of the present volume). The genus Mustela, as restricted by Cuvier (Reyne 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 each 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 Futorius. Three years later Nilsson (Skand. Fauna, 1 820) 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 zoo logists of the preceding century, and keeping Mustela for the more typical Weasels and their immediate allies. Later zoologists have been divided between the nomencla ture 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 binomially, need not be applied generically ; but this is contrary to the practice usually followed in suoh cases. Others avoid the difficulty by not breaking up the genus at all, and so apply the term Mustela to all the species. The result is that the generic name of the Martens in modern zoological works oscillates between Martes and Mustela, according to the views of the writer. The following characters apply to the restricted group of Martens proper, by whatever name they are called. 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. Vertebrae : C 7, D 14, L 6, S 3, C 18-23. Skull elongated and depressed. Facial portion moderate and rather com pressed. Zygomata arched and wide but slender. Post- orbital processes small. Auditory bulla3 large, but not very globose. Mandible with a strong triangular vertical coronoid process and a well-developed angular process. Dentition : i ~, c y, p |-, m | ; total 38. Upper incisors in a straight transverse line, rather long and 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 sectorial) with blade consisting chiefly of the central and posterior cusps, the anterior being rudimentary, inner tubercle small and and Martial often introduced foreign words into his Latin. Its etymology has been connected with the German &quot;martern,&quot; to torment. A second Romanic name for the same animal is fuina, in French fouine (see E. Von Marten s &quot; UeLer Thiernamen,&quot; in T)er Zooloyische Garten, vol. xi., 1870). The term &quot; Marten Cat,&quot; often used, is a misnomer, for though somewhat Cat-like in size, general appearance, and habits, its true affinities are not with the Felidfe, but, as stated above, with the Bears. 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 lube, 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 (sectorial) with well- marked bilobed blade, heel scarcely more than one-third of the length of the tooth, and a very small inner tubercle. 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 northern 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 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 build ings, 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 Mustelidce. 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. 1 In the same way, according to Hodgson, an allied species, the Yellow- bellied Weasel (Mustela kathiah), &quot; is exceedingly prized by the Nepalese 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.&quot; 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 to the same individuals in the summer season. The caprices of fashion have, moreover, set wholly factitious values upon slight shades of colour, recognized and named by experienced furriers, but not indicating any specific or other distinctions 1 See Rolleston, &quot;On the Domestic Cats, Felis domesticus and Mustela foina, of Ancient and Modern Times,&quot; Journal of Anatomy and Physiology, vol. ii. p. 47, 1368.