134 THE MARTEN. 



large, clear, perceptive, and moveable in its orbit, 

 that nothing can stir without its observation ; and 

 it is supplied apparently with a sense of smelling as 

 perfect as its other faculties. Its feet are well 

 adapted to its habits, not treading upright on the 

 balls alone, but with the joint bending, the fleshy 

 parts being imbedded in a very soft and delicate 

 hair, so that the tread of the animal, even upon de- 

 cayed leaves, is scarcely audible ; by which means 

 it can steal upon its prey without any noise betray- 

 ing its approach. The fur is fine, and the skin so 

 thin and flexible, as to impede none of its agile 

 movements. Thus every thing combines to render 

 the marten a very destructive creature. It seems 

 to have a great dislike to cold, residing in winter in 

 the hollow of some tree, deeply imbedded in dry 

 foliage, and when in confinement, covering and hid- 

 ing itself with all the warm materials it can find. 

 In genial seasons it will sleep by day in the aban- 

 doned nest of the crow or buzzard, and its dormi- 

 tory is often discovered by the chattering and mob- 

 bing of different birds on the tree. It is certainly 

 not numerous in England, our woods being too 

 small, and too easily penetrated, to afford it ade- 

 quate quiet and shelter. Its skin is still in some 

 little request, being worth about two shillings and 

 sixpence in the market ; but it is used only for 

 inferior purposes, as the furs of colder regions than 

 ours are better, and more easily obtained. 



