THE PINE MAKTEN. 



97 



and dangerous antagonist when brought to bay, is naturally of a timid 

 disposition, and shuns collision with an enemy. 



It is a tree-loving animal, being accustomed to traverse the trunks 

 and branches with wonderful address and activity, and being enabled 

 by its rapid and silent movements to steal unnoticed on many an un- 

 fortunate bird, and to seize it in its deadly gripe before the startled 

 victim can address itself to flight. It is a sad robber of nests, rifling 

 them of eggs and young, and not unfrequently adding the parent bird 

 to its list of victims. 



The damage which a pair of Martens and their young will inflict 

 upon a poultry-yard is almost incredible. If they can only gain an 

 entrance into the fowl-house, they will spare but very few of the 



The Pine Maeten {Martes Ahietum). 



inhabitants. They will carry ofi" an entire brood of young chickens, 

 eat the eggs, and destroy the parents. 



The magpie's nest is a very favorite resort of the Marten, because 

 its arched covering and small entrance afford additional security. A 

 boy who was engaged in bird-nesting, and had climbed to the top of a 

 lofty tree in order to plunder a Magpie's nest, was made painfully 

 sensible of an intruder's presence by a severe bite which was inflicted 

 upon his fingers as soon as he inserted his hand into the narrow 

 entrance. This adventure occurred in Belvoir Park, County Down, 

 in Ireland. 



The length of the Pine Marten is about eighteen inches, exclusive 

 of the tail, which measures about ten inches. The tail is covered with 

 long and rather bushy hair, and is slightly darker than the rest of the 

 body, which is covered with brown hair. The tint, however, is variable 

 in different specimens, and even in the same individual undergoes con- 

 siderable modifications, according to the time of year and the part of 

 9 G 



