680 NATURAL HIS TOBY. 



The European birch-martin and pine-martin may be dismissed with 

 mere mention, and their relative, the Asiatic sable, the most valuable of 

 all the fur animals, needs but little more space. It is an Arctic form, 

 found in all the more northern parts of the Old World, but most abun- 

 dantly in northeastern Siberia. It is most valuable in its winter pelage, 

 and the Bufferings the trappers go through, in the rigors of a Siberian 

 winter, can better be imagined than described. Skins of Asiatic sable 

 vary much in quality. Inferior skins may be purchased for about twenty- 

 five dollars, but those of the finest quality will bring two hundred dollars, 

 or even more. 



The last of these weasel-like forms is blessed with a multiplicity of 

 common names, — pennant, pekan, fisher, black cat, black fox, marten, and 

 the like. Black fox and black cat may at once be thrown aside, for the 

 animal is neither fox nor cat. Neither is it a fisher ; for all accounts agree 

 that while it is fond of fish, it does not catch these animals. It is a mar- 

 ten ; but that term is shared by several other animals. Pekan is probably 

 of Indian origin, and is the name most used. The pekan is a strong ani- 

 mal, and feeds on small quadrupeds and birds. The porcupine with his 

 spiny armor is no match for this animal, and all the hunters agree in say- 

 ing that this animal is an especial delicacy. Dr. Merriam quotes an instance 

 where the intestines of one of these animals "contained hundreds of porcu- 

 pine quills, arranged in clusters, like so many packages of needles, through- 

 out its length. In no case had a single quill penetrated the mucous 

 lining of the intestine, but they were apparently passing along its interior 

 as smoothly and as surely as if within a tube of glass or metal." The 

 strength and cunning of the pekan makes it almost as great a nuisance to 

 the trapper as the wolverine. It tears the traps to pieces in the same 

 manner. They do not, however, seem to show that malicious spirit that is 

 so characteristic of the glutton. 



The next great series of carnivores is that of which the dogs may be 

 regarded as the typical members; and of these the long roll of foxes first 

 comes up for mention. A fox may be known by its erect ears, sharp muz- 

 zle, bushy tail, and elliptical eyes much like those of a cat. In our 

 eastern 6ountry but two species occur, and of these but one is at all com- 

 mon. The gray fox does not appear to thrive in the vicinity of man, and 

 it has now become scarce in regions where once it was very abundant. 

 Much more common is the cunning red fox, which shows the crafty habits 

 of the well-known Reynard of the Old World. The red fox is a pretty 

 animal, with an intelligent countenance, which would make the animal 

 many friends were not its habits so bad. If when tamed it would only 

 lose its treacherousness, and if when wild it would let the hens and lambs 



