302 NATURALISTS CABINET. 



Ramarkable courage A tame martin. 



tree ; so high up, and in other respects so situ- 

 ated, as to afford it perfect security. The nest 

 of the squirrel is generally preferred : of this the 

 martin dispossesses the ingenious architect by 

 killing him; and then enlarges the dimensions of 

 its new habitation, and lines it with softer mate- 

 rials ; for the reception of its young. 



The courage of this animal is so great, that it 

 will attack animals considerably larger and 

 stronger than itself. It sometimes seizes lambs 

 and hares: and, if necessity oblige, will even 

 combat the fury of the wild cat ; which, though 

 much stronger, is always defeated, and often kil- 

 led. Notwithstanding this fierce disposition, 

 however, it ^eems capable of being rendered do- 

 cile : for Gessner informs us, that he kept one, 

 which was extremely frolicsome and entertain- 

 ing. It was particularly attached to a dog With 

 which it had been bred up ; and would play with 

 him as cats do, lying on its back, and pretending 

 to bite. It also used to visit the houses in the 

 neighbourhood, and regularly returned home 

 when it wanted food. The Cornte de Buffon 

 had one which had lost its native ferocity, but 

 did not discover any marks of attachment, and 

 continued so wild as to require being chained. 

 The flexibility of its body frequently enabled it 

 to elude its fetters, and to indulge its propensity 

 to rambling : at first it returned after some hours 

 absence, but without appearing pleased; the 

 time of absence of each succeeding elopement 



