294 CARNIVORA. 



their fur is of extraordinary thickness. The color docs not vary essen- 

 tially, being <rcncrally brown, with a yellowish tinge in Spain and Italy, 

 and a gray hue in Sweden. 



riie I'nie Marten is so called because it is generally found in those 

 localities where the pine-trees abound. It is a shy and wary animal, and 

 although fierce when brought to bay, naturally shuns collision with an 

 enemy. It traverses the trunks and branches with wonderful address and 

 activity, being enabled by its rapid and silent movements to steal im- 

 noticed on many an unfortunate bird, and to seize it in its deadly gripe 

 before the victim can take llight. It is very fond of appropriating to its 

 own use the nests of crows and other birds, and sometimes occupies the 

 habitation ofa squirrel which it has previously killed. Its fur is valuable, 

 and little inferior to that of the Sable. 



The Bkkcii Martkn, A/i/r/rs fni/nr, is distinguished by the white tint 

 of the fur on the throat and breast, and by its habit of prowling about 

 human habitations. It is more easily domesticated than the Tine 

 Marten, which in other respects it closely resembles. 



The odor si'creted by the inguinal glands of these two species is of a 

 musky, not olTensivc, odor, and hence they are called in England Sweet- 

 martens, to distinguish them from the Foul-martens or Polecats. 



The Saiu.e, Martis zibcllina (Plate XIX), has large ears, long legs, 

 and a brilliant, silky lur, and is found from the Ural Mountains to 

 Behring Straits. It lives near the banks of rivers in burrows among 

 the roots of trees, or in hollow trees ; its food in summer consists of 

 hares and small animals, in winter it is said to feed on wild berries. 



The value of its fur has induced a constant pursuit of the Sable, and 

 as it is most valuable when the animal is captured in winter, the hard- 

 ships to be undergone by the hunter are very great. The Sables are 

 taken in various modes. Sometimes they are captured in traps, which 

 are formed in order to secure the animal without damaging its fur. 

 Sometimes they are fairly hunted down by means of tlu' tracks which 

 their little feet leave in the white snow, and are traced to their domicile. 

 A net is then placed over the orifice, and by means of a certain pungent 

 smoke which is thrown into the cavity, the inhabitant is forced to rush 

 into the open air, and is entangled in the net. The hunters are forced to 

 support themselves on the soft yielding surface of the snow by wearing 

 "snow-shoes," or they would be lost in the deep drifts which are per- 

 fectly capable of supporting so light and active an animal as that they 



