THE MARTEN. 51 



the hind ones is strongest; by this structure the animal 

 is admirably adapted for leaping ; and there is also great 

 power of motion in the back-bone, by which means it 

 can throw the whole energy of its body into a leap. 

 When moving freely and without any excitement, it is 

 so lithe, that one would imagine there was hardly a 

 bone in its body ; but when it is excited, as in the 

 chase, (for it is understood to course hares and rabbits, 

 both by sight and scent,) it shoots along in leaps like 

 the successive discharges of a dart. 



The colour of the marten is a brownish black on the 

 upper part, tawny on the under, the throat and breast 

 white, and the head with a reddish tinge. The fur is 

 close and rather soft; but in both respects it is inferior 

 to that which comes from colder climates. The marten 

 is a great slaughterer of game, poultry, and birds ; per- 

 petually in motion while awake, and coiled up into a 

 ball and perfectly still when asleep. It climbs trees 

 with great facility ; and though it falls even in the 

 middle of a pack of hounds, such is its agility, that it 

 will be in the tree again before they be scarcely aware 

 of its fall. Instead of that offensive smell which some 

 of the analogous animals, such as the polecat, have, the 

 scent of the marten is musky and agreeable, and on that 

 account dogs run very readily at it. Though the instinct 

 of the marten leads it to a very general destruction of 

 animal life, and though in the practice of that it shows 

 great courage and determination, it cannot be regarded 

 as a savage animal. When taken young it can be easily 

 tamed, and in that state it is very frisky and playful ; 

 but when any of the animals that are its natural prey 

 come within its reach, its playfulness is instantly sus- 

 F 2 



