5° 



THE MAMMALS OF THE WOODS 



over Italy, and the whole of central Europe, also all over Britain, Scandinavia, 

 the temperate parts of European Russia and the Ural countries, and in certain 

 districts of Siberia; and is also found in the Caucasus, and in some of the vast 

 tracts which lie between that district, the southern Ural, and the Altai Mountains. 

 It generally lives a long way from human habitations in large forests, and 

 makes its home in hollow trees, rocky clefts, or abandoned nests of birds-of-prey 

 or squirrels, but it has always several haunts, so that, when disturbed, it can shift 



from one to another. 

 When assured of safety, 

 it will seek its prey in 

 the daytime, but, as a 

 rule, prefers doing so at 

 night. Its food consists 

 of ducks, pigeons, and 

 various small birds, and 

 also hares, rabbits, ham- 

 sters, mice, and squirrels; 

 nor does it disdain large 

 insects, birds' eggs, juicy 

 fruits, and honey. A 

 marten will not onh' eat 

 any bird it finds caught 

 in a trap, but also the 

 berries with which the 

 trap has been baited. 

 In agility in climbing it 

 is not inferior to the cat. 

 When creeping from 

 branch to branch in 

 stealthy pursuit of its 

 prey, the long, sharp 

 claws aftbrd a firm hold 

 (if the bark, while the 

 strong bushy tail aids 

 in keeping the balance 

 among the dark foliage 

 in which, whenever pos- 

 sible, this marten conceals itself during the silent approach. It sneaks round 

 its living prey with the utmost caution, follows it among the trees as well as 

 on the ground, and finally grips it by the hinder part of the head or the throat. 

 A marten will always leave fish, lizards, and small insects, untouched, but will 

 kill even after its hunger has been appeased. January or February is the 

 pairing-time of the pine-marten, and in April or May the female gives birth 

 to from three to five young ones, which are blind for the first fortnight. 

 At the age of six or eight weeks they can climb about by themselves on the 

 trees, though they are still accompanied by their parents. The fur is worth 



E 





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THE riXE-MABTEN. 



