Pine Marten 
destruction of all kinds of small game. It has been observed, 
however, that about once in every eight or ten years they 
almost disappear in a most unaccountable manner from all parts 
of the region they inhabit. 
There is no evidence of disease among them at such times, 
or that they have migrated in a body, as gray squirrels, hares 
and lemmings do when they find themselves overcrowded. 
The sable hunters all agree, however, that they invariably 
refuse to be enticed into a trap by bait of any sort just before 
the periods of scarcity, though commonly unsuspicious and easily 
taken. Martens prefer to make their nests in holes high up in 
some old tree, and find the nests of the larger woodpeckers 
perfectly suited to their needs. Having established themselves in 
a woodpecker’s or squirrel’s hole, they like to watch whatever is 
going on in the woods beneath them, with just their noses 
poked out into the air, ready to slip back out of sight if danger 
threatens. Their nests are made of moss and leaves in the bot- 
tom of the cavity. 
In the mountainous rocky country they often live in crevices 
among the ledges or a seam in the face of the cliff. They 
multiply rapidly, the females having half a dozen or more kittens 
early in the spring. 
Although they exhibit much less apprehensiveness in man’s 
presence in the wilderness than the otter, for example, they 
absolutely refuse to inhabit woods in the vicinity of any regular 
settlement, disappearing completely at the approach of civilization. 
While the otter, though quick to abandon his favourite slides and 
playgrounds if he finds the merest suspicion of a man’s tracks 
near by, only moves to some other. point along the stream, and 
establishes a new landing place, though it may just be on the 
outskirts of a village. Although martens are carnivorous animals, 
they are said to be very fond of beechnuts, and I should not be in 
the least surprised to learn that in the summer they eat berries 
of various kinds as well, for most of the flesh-eaters make an 
exception in favour of some sort of vegetable diet, just as almost 
all rodents like meat for a change. 
Varieties of the Pine Marten 
Marten. Mustela americana Turton. Description and range as 
above. 
