GROUP OF THE MARTENS. 



225 



In this genus, comprising a large number 

 of species, three groups may be distinguished 

 by the variations in the distribution of the 

 colours of the fur: the True Polecats, the 

 Weasels, and the Visons. The characters 

 of these groups are easily recognized. The 

 polecats have the sides and back lighter 

 than the under side; in 

 the weasels, on the other 

 hand, the back is darker, 

 the under side very light ; 

 the visons, lastly, are 

 pretty uniform in colour, 

 but have the under side 

 a little lighter than the 

 rest of the fur. 



The Polecat (Putorius 

 foztidus (Afustela puto- 

 rins) ), fig. 1 1 7, does not 

 quite attain the size of 

 the beech-marten, which 

 it resembles very much 

 in its mode of life. Like 

 it the polecat prefers to 

 live near human habita- 

 tions, where it can find 

 secure retreats. It com- 

 mits the same kind of 

 massacres, is no less 

 cunning and adroit, and 

 is not less detested, at 

 least in certain districts. 

 In other districts, on the contrary, the ser- 

 vices which it renders in the destruction 

 of mice, rats, field-mice, and even hamsters, 

 are highly prized. Since it hunts only at 

 night the poultry-yards may, in case of neces- 

 sity, be defended against him, so that the 

 slaughter of a few domestic fowls does not 

 outweigh his services in the fields and barns. 

 But since he is fond of laying up stores he 

 makes himself hated, not only on account of 

 his own bad smell, but also because of the 

 stench of the larder which he keeps in his 

 hiding-places. 



One other quality distinguishes the polecat. 



Fig. n8. The Ferret (Putorius furo). 



While the beech-marten eats reptiles only in 

 cases of the utmost need, the polecat appears 

 to be verv fond of lizards and serpents as 

 well as frogs. Experiments have shown that 

 he possesses the same power of resisting the 

 poison of vipers as that which the hedgehog 

 enjoys. Vipers, whose bite would infallibly 

 have killed a dog, did 

 not do the slightest in- 

 jury to a polecat, which 

 finally devoured them 

 after a hard battle. The 

 tenacity of life otherwise 

 displayed by these ani- 

 mals is very great and 

 known to all hunters. 



The polecat inhabits 

 the same regions as the 

 beech-marten, but does 

 not venture into northern 

 lands, preferring temper- 

 ate regions. His fur, 

 dark brown underneath, 

 brownish yellow on the 

 sides and back, is much 

 inferior in value to that 

 of the marten. The 

 downy hair is, indeed, 

 just as fine and soft, but 

 the bristly hairs are 

 longer and coarser. The 

 horrible stench, which can 

 only with difficulty be removed, is also a cause 

 of its lower value. Germany, and especially 

 the Bavarian plateaux, yield the best speci- 

 mens. The animal is hunted in the same 

 way as the beech- marten, and he shares the 

 sensitiveness of the latter to harsh metallic 

 sounds. 



The Ferret (Putorius (Mustela) ftiro), fig. 

 1 1 8, is only a trained variety of the polecat, 

 with white or yellowish fur, rather darker 

 underneath, and red eyes. Like all albinos 

 the ferret is less lively and has less power 

 of resisting external influences than his 

 kindred; it is more sensitive to frost and 



23 



