154 THE PINE -MARTEN. 



ably longer than with the otter and the polecat ; 

 but whereas the young of the otter are blind for 

 three months or more, the young martens receive 

 their sight at the end of four weeks. In other 

 words, dating from the day of the parents' mating, 

 young otters reach that stage of development when 

 their eyes open at the end of about 150 days, and 

 young martens at the end of 120 days. When 

 they are about six weeks old the parent marten 

 begins to take meat to her offspring, and by about 

 the end of the seventh week they first leave the 

 nest. They are full-grown at six months. 



The number of young per litter ranges from two 

 to five. Three is the usual number, and occasion- 

 ally as many as seven occur. Sir Harry Johnston 

 thinks it probable that two litters per season are 

 born ; but in view of the fact that the first litter 

 must occupy the mother well on into the summer, 

 this would seem rather an open question. 



It is probable that the young begin to breed the 

 spring succeeding their birth ; so, considering their 

 longevity, martens cannot be said to be unprolific 

 creatures. 



FIGHTING. 



The marten has not developed its climbing- 

 powers at the expense of its powers of running. 

 On the ground it is considerably the fastest of 

 all the weasels. A boy of twelve can easily out- 

 run a stoat on open ground, while an otter is 

 comparatively helpless if surprised far from its 

 beloved element. A marten, on the other hand, 

 can hold its own over a short distance against a 

 normal sheep-dog. True, it will tree-up at the 

 first possible opportunity, or seek refuge among 

 the rocks ; but nevertheless it will probably escape 



