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THE PINE MARTEN. 



muscular powers, give them the capability of winding their Jittle bodies into the smallest pos- 

 sible crevices, and of waging successful battle with animals of twenty times their size and 

 strength. 



FIRST on the list of Weasels are placed the agile and lively MARTENS, or MARTEN -CATS, 

 as they are sometimes termed. Two species of Martens are generally admitted into catalogues, 

 although the distinction of the species is even as yet a mooted point. The chief distinction 

 between the Pine and the Beech Martens is the different tint of the throat, which in the former 

 animal is yellow, and in the latter is white. But it is said by many observers that this varia- 

 tion of tint is not of sufficient importance to warrant a separation of the species, and that the 



PINE MAKTEN. Muetela martes. 



different sexes of the same species are marked by varying depth of color in the throat, the 

 male possessing a darker tinge of yellow than the female. There is also a slight difference of 

 size between the two sexes. Taking, however, the arguments which have been adduced on 

 both sides of the question, the balance of probabilities lies strongly on the side of those who 

 consider the yellow-throated and the white-throated Martens to belong to different species. 



THE PINE MARTEN is so called because it is generally found in those localities where the 

 pine-trees abound, and is in the habit of climbing the pines in search of prey. It is a shy and 

 wary animal, withdrawing itself as far as possible from the sight of man ; and although a 

 fierce and dangerous antagonist when brought to bay, is naturally of a timid disposition, and 

 shuns collision with an enemy. 



It is a tree-loving animal, being accustomed to traverse the trunks and branches with won- 

 derful address and activity, and being enabled by its rapid and silent movements to steal 

 unnoticed on many an unfortunate bird, and to seize it in its deadly gripe before the startled 

 victim can address itself to flight. It is a sad robber of nests, rifling them of eggs and young, 

 anH not unfrequently adding the parent birds to its list of victims. 



The fur of the Pine Marten is rather valuable, especially if the animal be killed in the 

 winter. A really fine skin is but little inferior to the celebrated sable, and can hardly be dis- 



