Pine Marten 



destruction of all kinds of small game. It has been observed, 

 however, that about once in every eight or ten years they 

 almost disappear in a most unaccountable manner from all parts 

 of the region they inhabit. 



There is no evidence of disease among them at such times, 

 or that they have migrated in a body, as gray squirrels, hares 

 and lemmings do when they find themselves overcrowded. 



The sable hunters all agree, however, that they invariably 

 refuse to be enticed into a trap by bait of any sort just before 

 the periods of scarcity, though commonly unsuspicious and easily 

 taken. Martens prefer to make their nests in holes high up in 

 some old tree, and find the nests of the larger woodpeckers 

 perfectly suited to their needs. Having established themselves in 

 a woodpecker's or squirrel's hole, they like to watch whatever is 

 going on in the woods beneath them, with just their noses 

 poked out into the air, ready to slip back out of sight if danger 

 threatens. Their nests are made of moss and leaves in the bot- 

 tom of the cavity. 



In the mountainous rocky country they often live in crevices 

 among the ledges or a seam in the face of the cliff. They 

 multiply rapidly, the females having half a dozen or more kittens 

 early in the spring. 



Although they exhibit much less apprehensiveness in man's 

 presence in the wilderness than the otter, for example, they 

 absolutely refuse to inhabit woods in the vicinity of any regular 

 settlement, disappearing completely at the approach of civilization. 

 While the otter, though quick to abandon his favourite slides and 

 playgrounds if he finds the merest suspicion of a man's tracks 

 near by, only moves to some other point along the stream, and 

 establishes a new landing place, though it may just be on the 

 outskirts of a village. Although martens are carnivorous animals, 

 they are said to be very fond of beechnuts, and I should not be in 

 the least surprised to learn that in the summer they eat berries 

 of various kinds as well, for most of the flesh-eaters make an 

 exception in favour of some sort of vegetable diet, just as almost 

 all rodents like meat for a change. 



Varieties of the Pine Marten 



Marten. Mustela americana, Turton. Description and range as 

 above. 



