304 NATURALIST'S CABINET*. 



Methods of taking the sable. 



deep glossy brown ; and the fur is different from 

 all others, in the hair turning either way with 

 equal facility. It frequents the banks of rivers 

 and the deepest recesses of the woods; generally 

 making their nest under ground, or in the hol- 

 lows of trees. During the summer they regale 

 on the flesh of birds, squirrels, hares, 8cc. but in 

 \vinter they principally subsist on berries. The 

 female brings forth in the spring, and generally 

 produces from three to five at a time. 



The natives of Kamtschatka have a very sim- 

 ple method of taking these animals. They fol- 

 low the track of the sable in snow-shoes, till they 

 have discovered his retreat, which is generally a 

 burrow in the earth. As soon as the little crea- 

 ture is aware of his pursuers, he escapes into 

 some hollow tree; which the hunters surround 

 with a net, and then either cut it down, or force 

 the animal by fire and smoke to abandon his re- 

 treat, when he falls into the net and is killed. 

 They sometimes surround the tree in which a 

 sable is lodged, with dogs trained for the pur- 

 pose; and then, making a running noose on a 

 cord, contrive to get the creature's head into 

 the snare, by which means he becomes an easy 

 prey. 



Another contrivance is the sable-trap of the 

 Vogules, which is used in several parts of Sibe- 

 ria. A place is found where two young trees stand 

 not far asunder. These are immediately stripped 

 of their branches about the bottom; and near 



