234 NATURAL HISTORY. 



ate climates, it is not to be met with even in the re- 

 gions of the North. 



The countenance of the martin is very sharp ; its 

 eye is lively, its limbs are supple, its body is flexible, 

 and all its movements are quick. It rather leaps and 

 bounds than walks ; and with great facility climbs 

 walls, enters pigeon-houses, and hen-houses, devours 

 the eggs, the pigeons, and the hens, as on other occa- 

 sions it does mice, rats, moles, and birds in their nests. 



This animal is said to bring forth as often as the 

 cat : the growth of the young ones is very quick; and 

 hence it may be inferred, that it is an animal whose 

 life does not exceed eight or ten years. Its smell, 

 which is not absolutely disagreeable, is like that of 

 counterfeit musk. Both the martin and the pine- 

 weasel, as well as a number of other animals, have 

 interior vesicles which contain a strong-scented sub- 

 stance like that of civet. 



THE PINE-WEASEL. 



THE pine-weasel is originally a native of the north 

 tad is in a manner peculiar to that climate, where 

 they are so numerous, that the quantity of furs pro- 

 duced from them, and carried into foreign countries, 

 is astonishing. In temperate climates, on the contrary 

 it is rarely, and in warm climates never to be found : 

 ihare are some in Burgundy, and some in the forest of 

 Fontainbleau ; but in general they are as scarce in 

 France as tbe martin is common : there are none in 

 England, because in that country there are no very 

 woods. 



