The Smaller Carnivora 



are said not to climb. The skin is protected by thick, close hair, so that bees cannot 

 sting through the fur. The skin is also very loose. If a dog bites it, the ratel can generally 

 twist round and bite back. The African ratel is omnivorous. It eats snakes and birds. The 

 body of a cobra has been found in the stomach of one. 



THE WEASEL TRIBE. 



No animals are more bloodthirsty and carnivorous than most of the Weasel Tribe. They 

 are also well equipped both in actual weapons and in activity of body, and have powers quite 

 out of proportion to their size. They are also gifted with magnificent coats, and constitute 

 the most valuable source of choice furs. Sable, Marten, Mink, Wolverine, Ermine, Otters, and 

 several others are among the most highly prized. Their claws are sharp, but not retractile. 

 It is indeed fortunate that these creatures are so small in size, otherwise they would be 

 among the greatest enemies of animal life. As things are, they are useful in keeping down the 

 numbers of creatures which, like field-mice, moles, rabbits, and rats, might, and occasionally 

 do, become a pest. 



THE MARTENS. 



There are two species of marten in Europe the BEECH- and the PINE-MARTEN. The 

 latter has a yellow throat, the former a white one. The fur is almost as fine as sable. All 

 so-called Canadian sables are really martens. These animals are found throughout Northern 

 Europe and Northern Asia, in Japan, and all over Northern America. In Scotland the 

 pine-marten survives in the pine forests ; also in Ireland, where it is occasionally killed on 

 the Wicklow Mountains, near Dublin, and on the Mourne Mountains. It is believed to 

 remain in Cumberland, Devonshire, and possibly in parts of Wales. It is a tree-loving animal, 

 and feeds mainly on squirrels, which it pursues through the branches. It is also fond of 

 fruit. .Mr. Charles St. John discovered this in a curious way. He noticed that his rasp- 

 berries were being stolen, so set a trap among the canes. Next day all he could see was a 

 heap of newly gathered raspberry leaves where the trap was. Stooping down to move them, a 

 marten sprang up and tried to defend itself. The poor beast had come to gather more rasp- 

 berries, and had been caught. Unable to escape, it gathered the leaves near and concealed itself. 



THE SABLE. 



This is so little different 

 from the marten that some 

 have thought it only a 

 northern variety. That is not 

 the case, as both are found 

 in the same area, and no one 

 who knows anything of form 

 and colour could mistake the 

 true sable's fur. This fur is 

 so fine and even that each 

 single hair tapers gradually 

 to a point : that is why 

 sable brushes for painting are 

 so valuable ; they always form 

 a point when wet. The price 

 of these brushes, which are 

 of genuine sable fur, though 

 made up from fragments of 

 the worst- coloured or damaged 

 skins, varies yearly with the 

 price of sable in the market. 



Plcoto ly A. S. Rudtand it Sons. 



RATEL. 

 Ratels are curiously restless little animals, with a peculiar trot-like walk. 



