328 



HUNTING ADVENTURES. 



THE SABLE. 



CHAPTER LIV. 



HUNTING THE MARTEN, SABLE, GENET AND CIVET. 



HE Pine Marten, a native of the North, and an in- 

 habitant'of the pine forests, whence it derives ita 

 name, is abundant in Siberia and the northern por- 

 tions of America, and is not uncommon among the 

 wooded ravines in the wild mountainous districts 

 of Scotland and Wales. It builds its habitation chiefly on the tops 

 of the fir, or seizes on the already formed nest of the squirrel, or 

 some bird, whence it drives the owner, and enlarges for its own 

 convenience. It is rather less than the former, but its fur is finer 

 and darker, and the throat and breast yellow, instead of white. 

 In summer they assume a lighter tinge, and their hair becomes 

 shorter : in winter their toes are well protected by long wool, which 

 drops off as the weather gets warm. Its habits are similar to the 

 common Marten, but more fierce ; it never meets the wild cat 

 without a deadly encounter, and is sometimes victorious even over 

 the golden eagle, when that bird pounces on it as its prey, seizing 

 the aggressor by the throat, and bringing it lifeless to the gnrmd 

 Formerly, the fur of this species formed a lucrative article of export 

 from Scotland ; at present immense quantities are brought from 

 Siberia, and in one year, the Hudson Bay Company alone sold 

 fifteen thousand skins. 



The Sable inhabits the same countries in the North, and has 

 sometimes been confounded with the former which it strongly icsem* 

 bles in structure and habits ; but Professor Pauas, who examined it ou 



