HISTORY AND HABITS OF THE MARTEN. 95 



squirrel, piece of fish, or bird's liead. One of the greatest ob- 

 stacles that the Sable hunter has to contend with in many 

 localities is the persistent destruction of his traps by the Wol- 

 verene and Pekan, both of which display great cunning and 

 perseverance in following up his line to eat the bait, and even 

 the Sables themselves which may be captured. The exploits 

 of these animals in this respect may be seen from the accounts 

 elsewhere given. I have accounts from Hudson's Bay trappers 

 of a Sable road fifty miles long, containing 150 traps, every one 

 of which was destroyed throughout the whole line twice — once 

 by a Wolf, once by the Wolverene. When thirty miles of 

 this same road was given up, the remaining 40 traps were 

 broken five or six times in succession by the latter animal. 

 The Sable is principally trapped during the colder months, from 

 October to April, when the fur is in good condition ; it is nearly 

 valueless during the shedding in summer. Sometimes, however, 

 bait is refused in March, and even early that month, probably 

 with the coming on of the rutting season. The period of full 

 furring varies both in spring and autumn, according to lati- 

 tude, by about a mouth as an extreme. 



Notwithstanding the persistent and uninterrupted destruc- 

 tion to which the Sable is subjected, it does not appear to 

 diminish materially in numbers in unsettled parts of the 

 country. The periodical disappearances noted by Mr. Ross 

 and the animars early retreat before the inroads of population 

 are other matters. It holds its own partly in consequence of its 

 shyness, which keeps it away from the abodes of men, and 

 partly because it is so prolific; it brings forth six or eight young 

 at a litter. Its home is sometimes a den under ground or be- 

 neath rocks, but oftener the hollow of a tree; it is said to fre- 

 quently take forcible possession of a Squirrel's nest, driving ofl: 

 or devouring the rightful proprietor. Though frequently called 

 Pine Marten, like its European relative, it does not appear to be 

 particularly attached to coniferous woods, though these are its 

 abode in perhaps most cases, simply because such forests pre- 

 vail to a great extent in the geographical areas inhabited by 

 the Marten. 



The Sable is no partner in guilt with the Mink and Stoat in 

 invasion of the farm-yard, nor will it, indeed, designedly take 

 up its abode in the clearing of a settler, preferring always to 

 take its chances of food supply in the recesses of the forest. 

 Active, industrious, cunning, and predaceous withal, it finds 



