AMERICAN EDITOR. 295 



the state of New York it is prized as a delicacy for the 

 table, and in the old orchards of Westchester county, for 

 instance, is by no means uncommon. 



NOTE Q. 

 THE MAETEM, (Mustela Martes,") p. 95. 



The American Sable, or Pine Marten, Mustela Maries, is 

 believed by some Naturalists to differ decidedly from that 

 of Europe. It is a very active, nocturnal animal, twenty 

 or thirty inches in length, and found in old forests be- 

 tween forty and sixty-eight degrees of north latitude. 

 Trees are exclusively the homes of these pretty little 

 creatures, which are so perseveringly hunted for their 

 beautiful furs. Their skins are sold for one or two dol- 

 lars apiece, according to their condition, color, &c. As 

 the Martens have litters of six or eight young at a time, 

 they would probably be almost as common in our woods 

 as squirrels, if it were not for the value man has attached 

 to their fur. 



NOTE K. 



THE HEDGEHOG, (Erinaceus EuropcRus,) p. 96. 

 This is a little animal very common indeed in England, 

 and found in all parts of Europe, excepting the extreme 

 northern countries, Norway, Lapland, &c. It is about 

 nine or ten inches in length ; the entire back, and part 

 of the head are covered with sharp brown spines which 

 form its sure defence against many enemies, for when sur- 

 prised, or attacked, the little creature has the power of 

 rolling itself up into a spiny ball, head, legs, and tail bo- 

 ing completely concealed. In order to enable it to take 

 this shape, it has cutaneous muscles of a peculiar 



