12 THE POLECAT 



honey, and to even eat fruits and grain. The fur of the marten 

 bears some resemblance to that of the sable, but is inferior to it, 

 though a considerable number of skins are imported into England 

 from the North of Europe. 



The PINE MARTEN (Maries abietum) inhabits the pine forests of 



FIG. 9. THE COMMON MARTEN. 



continental Europe, and is not, as formerly supposed, a British 

 species. It is of smaller size than the common marten, with a yellow 

 mark on the throat, and has a finer fur, which is used for trimmings. 

 The POLECAT, FOUMART or FITCH (Mustela putoria), Fig. 10, 

 like most other members of the Mustelidae, has an elongated body 

 and short legs, muzzle shortened, skull triangular, neck long and 

 flexible, ears small, eyes large, and the senses of smell, hearing, and 

 sight very acute. The anal glands which are placed close to the 

 base of the tail secrete a fluid of highly unpleasant odour, disagree- 

 ably permanent in contact with clothing or other material. The 



