412 



&rrauri? at Natural ^t 



couple live together united not in the bonds 

 of matrimony but of friendship. 



There are several other American species. 

 The QUKBEC MARMOT (Arctomys empetra), 

 a solitary animal, whose burrows are almost 

 perpendicular, and situated in dry spots, at 

 some distance from the water. The Woon- 

 CIIUCK (A rctomys^ monax) ; they make their 

 burrows in the sides of hills, which extend 

 a considerable distance, and terminate in 

 chambers lined with dry grass, leaves, &c. 

 They are easily tamed, and are very cleanly. 



Besides the foregoing, many species of the 

 Marmot are found in the north of Europe 

 and Asia : they swarm in the Ukraine, about 

 the Boristhenes, in the southern desert of 

 Great Tartary, and in the Alcaic mountains 

 south of the Irtis. They burrow, and form 

 magazines of corn and nuts ; sit like squir- 

 rels while they eat ; and generally bring 

 forth from five to eight young. They are 

 both herbivorous and carnivorous. 



MARMOZET,orOUISTITIS. (Jacchus.) 

 A genus of American monkeys distinguished 

 from the rest by the absence of the additional 

 molar, and by the sharpness and crooked- 

 ness of their nails. The thumb is not oppo- 

 sable, being placed in the same line with 

 the other fingers ; and that of the hind feet 

 is very short. The tail is large, and thickly 

 covered with hair ; but it is not prehensile ; 

 and in many species it is marked by trans- 

 verse bars, giving it a very elegant appear- 

 ance : several are also distinguished by 

 tufts of hair projecting from the sides of the 

 head. They are very agile in their move- 

 ments, and extremely cautious and wary ; 

 exhibiting a degree of wildness and distrust 

 even when in confinement. They show 

 much instinctive sagacity in their search for 

 insect food. 



MARSUPIALTA, or MARSUPIALS. A 



singular family of the order Carnivara, in 

 the class Mammalia; and so called from the 

 females having a pouch (marsupium), or 

 temporary abode for the young immediately 

 after birth, and into which they retreat long 

 after they can walk, whenever they are ap- 

 prehensive of danger. Two particular bones, 

 called the marsupial bones, attached to the 

 pubis, and placed amidst the abdominal 

 muscles, support this pouch. Professor Owen 

 says, " they assist in producing a compres- 

 sion of the mammary gland, necessary for 

 the alimentation of a peculiarly feeble off- 

 spring, and they defend the abdominal vis- 

 cera from the pressure of the young as they 

 increase in size, during their mammary or 

 marsupial existence, and still more when 

 they return to the pouch for temporary 

 shelter." It should moreover be observed, 

 that these marsupial bones are found like- 

 wise in the male, and even in species where 

 the pouch-formed fold of skin is scarcely 

 perceptible. New South Wales abounds in 

 marsupial animals, but they are found also 

 in America and the Asiatic islands. [See 

 KANGAROO : OPOSSUM.] 



MARTEN. (Mustela foina.) This elegant 

 and lively animal, whose agile and graceful 

 motions are not excelled by any of the 



weasel tribe, resides in woods, and preys 

 chiefly on birds and small animals. Its 

 general length from nose to tail is about a 

 foot and a half, and the tail is ten inches long. 

 The female breeds in hollow trees, produces 

 from three to seven young at a time, and has ' 

 at least two litters in a year. They are 

 very destructive to game of every kind, and 

 to All sorts of domestic poultry, eggs, &c. : 

 they will also feed on rats, mice, and moles ; 

 are very fond of honey, and will sometimes j 

 eat seeds and grain. The Marten is of a 

 dark tawny colour, with a white throat ; and 

 the belly is of a dusky brown : the tail is 

 bushy, and of a darker colour than the other 

 parts ; the ears are moderately large and 

 rounded ; muzzle pointed ; and the eyes : 

 bright and lively. It is very wild and un- | 

 tameable if captured when full grown, but 

 if taken young is susceptible of great do- 

 cility. It has two sorts of fur ; the outer, 

 which is very long, and brown of different 

 shades in different parts of the body ; and the 

 inner, which is extremely soft, short, and of a 

 light yellowish gray colour. 



The PINE MARTEX (Miistela martes) is an 

 inhabitant of the woody districts in the 

 northern parts of America, from the Atlantic 

 to the Pacific ; it is also found about the 

 region of Mount Caucasus, as well as in 

 Sweden, Norway, &c. It very closely re- 

 sembles the preceding, but may be dis- 

 tinguished by its smaller size, longer legs, 

 finer, thicker, and more glossy fur, and from 

 the throat being marked with a broad yellow 

 spot. The Pine Marten preys on mice, 

 rabbits, partridges, &c. It never frequents 



houses, as the common Marten occasionally 

 does ; but confines itself altogether to the 

 woods and fields. Its fur is far superior in 

 quality to that of the former species, and 

 the skins form a great article of commerce. 

 When this animal is pursued, and its retreat 

 cut off, it shows its teeth, erects its hair, 

 arches its back, and hisses like a cat. It 

 burrows in the ground, carries its young 

 about six weeks, and brings forth from four 

 to seven in a litter about the latter end of 

 April. Both this and the former species 

 have a kind of musky smell. 



PENNANT'S MARTEN. (Hmtda Cann- 

 densis.) This is also a native of the north- 

 ern parts of America. It is a larger and 

 stronger animal than the Pine Marten ; lives 

 in the woods, preferring damp places to dry; 

 and climbs with facility. It brings forth 

 once a year, from two to four young. It is 

 sought for its skin, of which considerable 



