BEE CH-MARTEXS 



5i 



Beech Marten. 



much more than that of the beech-marten, and, in fact, is nearly equal to 

 sable in value. 



The beech-marten (M. fcrina) has a white breasl instead of a 



yellowish one like the pine-marten, -which it resembles in habits, and 

 its under-fur varies but slightly from pure white to light grey and is without any 

 yellow tips. In general colour it is brown, varying from greyish to blackish, being 

 darkest on the limbs and 

 tail, and is occasionally 

 known as the white- 

 breasted marten, the 

 pine-marten being the 

 yellow-breasted one : on 

 the Continent it bears 

 the name of stone-marten 

 from its frequently liv- 

 ing among inland cliffs 

 and in other stony places. 

 Being more southerly in 

 distribution than the 

 pine-marten it is not 

 found in England, 

 Xorway, Sweden, and 

 northern Denmark, but 

 its range extends from 

 the coast of the Atlantic 

 to Turkestan and the 

 Himalaya as far east as 

 Sikhim. It is known all 

 ■over central Europe and 

 throughout Italy, as well 

 as in eastern Europe up 

 to the Urals; and though 

 unknown as yet in 

 Persia, it inhabits the 

 Crimea and Caucasus, 

 Asia Minor and Syria. 

 It preys on mice, rats, 



rabbits and squirrels, birds, frogs, and lizards, and has been observed to eat 

 cherries, plums, and other fruit. As it is frequently found nearer the habitations 

 of man than its relative, it does more damage to poultry and pigeons. During 

 the pairing-season, which begins about three weeks later than that of the 

 pine-marten, the beech-marten mews like a cat, though at other times it rarely 

 makes a sound. In the hollow of a tree or some rocky cleft or other suitable 

 place it makes a carefully arranged nest of hay, straw, or similar material, in 

 which are born in April the four or five young, which are blind for the first 

 fortnight. 



THE BEECH-MARTEN". 



