yio Life-histories of Northern Animals 



makes it turn on the greater or less fertility of the female, 

 which may be a result of the two causes, starvation and over- 

 feeding. In famine years the females do not breed, and in 

 years of overfeeding they do not breed; so the increase is 

 ended. There is no evidence of epidemic to account for the 

 disappearance of those already existing. Probably it is the 

 result of many causes. The increase has been stopped and, 

 owing to the growing scarcity of Rabbits and Mice, the F'isher, 

 Foxes, and Lynxes — also greatly multiplied — prey now largely 

 on the Marten. Cannibalism and starvation set in, and if any 

 die by disease, they are never seen by man because devoured by 

 beasts. Meanwhile hunger makes them ready to ente.r any 

 baited trap, the trapper makes great catches, the surplus is 

 soon worked off, and the Marten are reduced again to near zero. 



sociA- This interesting creature appears to be the least sociable 



BILITY 



of this unsociable family. Otters will meet to enjoy their 

 slide in a merry party, Skunks will gather for warmth, the 

 smaller Weasels will help each other in distress or in hunting, 

 but, so far as I can learn, no man ever yet saw two adult Mar- 

 tens meeting with feelings other than those of deadly hate; 

 the one essential supreme exception to this is doubtless found 

 in the moment of sexual congress. 



INTER- Not having many ideas that it wishes to communicate to 



N°c™ its kind, the Marten has few methods of communicating them. 



TioN -pj^g scent-glands, so important to its kindred, are greatly 

 reduced in this species. 



SCENT- Nevertheless, the British Marten that I saw in A. H. 



Cocks's menagerie, made use of the musk gland at least every 

 five minutes as they galloped about, pressing the parts on some 

 projection of the cage. The sketches (Fig. 217) illustrate two 

 in the act; both were males. It is easy to see how this may 

 be a means of letting others of the kind know that a Marten 

 has been here recently. 



Its voice is heard in a growl, a hiss, and a snarl which 

 sometimes becomes a shrill screech. Cocks's Martens bleat 



GLANDS 



