326 THE PINE MARTEN. 



birds, rats, mice, and also eggs whenever it can find 

 them. In size it is much larger than the last-mentioned 

 animal, and its general colour is yellowish, dashed or 

 blended here and there with a blackish tint ; the tail is 

 long, well feathered, and pointed. It is by no means 

 unusual to find some individuals whose fur varies some- 

 what from the general rule both in colour and fineness. 



" As the animals and birds which furnish the pine 

 marten with its food frequent thick woods, it is conse- 

 quently in these that it is most commonly found. It 

 robs the nests of the wild bees as dexterously as the 

 black bear himself, and will devour fish, insects, and 

 even reptiles readily. Squirrels often fall a prey to 

 this predatory beast, and their nests are frequently 

 appropriated by it. 



" The pine marten, according to Audubon, produces 

 from four to seven young at a birth, and generally in 

 a hollow log, a hole under a rock, or in a burrow. 



" The fur is of some value, but is inferior to that of 

 the sable marten. Sir John Richardson says : ' A par- 

 tridge's head with the feathers is the best bait for the 

 log traps in which this animal is taken. It does not 

 reject carrion, and often destroys the hoards of meat 

 and fish laid up by the natives, when they have acci- 

 dentally left a crevice by which it can enter.' 



" When hard pressed, the marten can show fight much 

 after the fashion of a cat when attacked by a dog; 

 that is, it shows its teeth, erects its fur, arches its back, 

 and emits a hissing sound. When attacked by a dog 



