THE MARTEN. 129 



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 

 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 

 decayed leaves is scarcely audible; by which 

 means it can steal upon its prey without any noise 

 betraying its approach. The fur is fine, and the 

 skin so thin and flexible, as to impede none of its 



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