192 LETTER XXXII. 



of view. These are principally the pine weasel, the 

 martin, the sable, and the ermine, which are all in- 

 cluded in the weasel kind, which I shall next de- 

 scribe. In the mean while you will not be displeased 

 to contemplate in one view those particular species 

 which are so distinguished by the richness of their 

 furs ; and while they contribute a valuable article of 

 commerce, furnish mankind with an opportunity of 

 observing the wisely adapted beneficence of the 

 Creator, in giving to these animals a covering, which, 

 after having protected them from the rigors of a north- 

 ern climate, serves as an article of utility, as well as 

 of ornament to man. 



THE PINE WEASEL 



is found in Great Britain, but the species is not very 

 numerous. It inhabits large forests, especially where, 

 the pine tree abounds, on the tops of which it chiefly 

 feeds. It is found in the greatest numbers in the 

 northern parts of the old and the new continent: 

 North America, especially abounds with these ani- 

 mals, and from thence prodigious numbers of their 

 skins are imported. The annual importation from 

 Canada has been known to amount to thirty thou*- 

 sand skins, and about half that number from Hudson's 

 Bay. 



THE MARTIN* 



is the most beautiful of the weasel kind, and more 

 common in England than the last described animal. 

 It lives in woods, and breeds in hollow trees, and pro- 

 duces five or six young at a time. 



The martin, when taken young, is easily tamed, and 

 soon becomes exceedingly tractable and playful, but 

 is always ready to take advantage of any opportu- 

 nity to make its escape, and ilee to the woods, the 

 residence to which nature has given it the strongest 

 propensity. The food of this animal is the same of 

 all the weasel kind. It is extremely fond of honey, 

 and sometimes feeds on grain. 



M. de Button informs us, that a martin which he 

 had tamed, sometimes slept two days successively, 

 and at other, tunes remained us long awake; and that 



