THE MARTEN. 133 



mice about the places of their growth, I conclude 

 they are eaten by these creatures. The long man- 

 dibles of the little shrew are well fitted for this 

 operation. I have never found the plant in such 

 quantities as to yield them any considerable 

 supply; yet it is remarkable, that the seeds of 

 one genus only, out of such a numerous class, 

 should be so visible, and of such a size, as to 

 become an article of food to an animal like a 

 mouse. 



But we must dismiss the vegetable tribes, and 

 enter upon the world of sensitive nature. The 

 quadrupeds naturally present themselves first to 

 our notice, but with us they are few in number ; 

 our population scares them, our gamekeepers kill 

 them, and enclosures extirpate their haunts. Yet 

 the marten (mustela martes) lingers with us still, 

 and every winter's snow becomes instrumental to 

 its capture, betraying its footsteps to those who 

 are acquainted with the peculiar trace which it 

 leaves. Its excursions generally terminate at some 

 hollow tree, whence it is driven into a bag ; and 

 we are surprised, that a predaceous animal, not 

 protected by laws or arbitrary privileges, and of 

 some value too, should still exist. Of all our ani- 

 mals called vermin, we have none more admirably 

 fitted for a predatory life than the marten : it is 

 endowed with strength of body; is remarkably 

 quick and active in all its motions ; has an eye so 



