NATURAL HISTORY. 235 



Alike averse to open countries, and to countries 

 which, are inhabited, it remains in the bosom of some 

 forest, ranges through the labyrinths of the thicket, or 

 towers aloft upon the branches of the trees. It sub- 

 sists by the chase, and destroys a prodigious quantity 

 of birds. Of the squirrel, the dor-mouse, &c. it also 

 makes a prey ; and it is known to eat honey as well 

 as the martin. 



Its neck is yellow, whereas that of the martin is 

 white ; and its hair, at the same time, is much finer, 

 thicker, and less subject to shed. 



When the female is near her time, her custom is to 

 climb to the nest of some squirrel, to drive her from 

 it, to Enlarge it for her own purpose, and to bring 

 forth her young in it. In the same manner, she oc- 

 cupies the old nests of the owl and the buzzard as als 

 the hollow places of trees, from which she presently 

 dislodges the wood-pecker, and other birds. 



THE POLE-CAT. 



THE pole-cat is somewhat smaller than the mar- 

 tin : its tail is shorter, its snout sharper, and its hair 

 thicker and blacker : it has some white on its fore- 

 head, and about the nose and mouth : it differs like- 

 wise in its voice ; the cry of the martin being rather 

 sharp and loud, that of the pole-cat deeper and more 

 hollow : the pole-cat, however, does not at all resem- 

 ble the martin in smell, which in the former is per- 

 fectly fetid. When heated or enraged especially, it 

 emits a stench that is absolutely intolerable. The 

 dogs will not eat its flesh ; and even its skin, though 

 good in itself, sells at a very low price, as it can ne 

 v.er be entirely divested of its natural odour 



