THE PINE MARTEN. 



345 



powerful claws. These claws, or talons, as they may be called, are in most of the 

 species permanently protruded; but in some examples are very slightly retractile. 

 The tongue of these animals is smooth to the touch, and partakes but very slightly of 

 that dry roughness which is so conspicuous a characteristic of the feline tongue. 



Injurious as are the generality of the Weasel tribe, and unpleasant neighbors as 

 they may be to the poultry or rabbit fancier, they are of great consequence in the mer- 

 cantile world, on account of the peculiarly beautiful fur with which their bodies are 

 covered, and which is put to so many uses by mankind. Artists are indebted to the 

 Weasels for the delicate elasticity of their best brushes, and the skins of many of the 

 Weasel tribe are held in the highest esteem for the purpose of being formed into warm 

 and costly clothing. The snowy ermine, that forms the mantles of kings, and lines 

 their crowns, is a product of a very familiar member of the Mustelidae ; and the scarce- 

 ly less coveted sable is taken from the spoils of another species of Mustelidae. 



PINE MARTEN. Cartes Abletum. 



FIRST on the list of Weasels are placed the agile and lively MARTENS or MARTEN 

 CATS, as they are sometimes termed. Two species of British Martens are generally 

 admitted into our catalogues, although the distinction of the species is even as yet a 

 mooted point. The chief distinction between the Pine and the Beech Martens is the 

 different tint of the throat, which in the former animal is yellow, and in the latter is 

 white. But it is said by many observers that this variation of tint is not of sufficient 

 importance to warrant a separation of the species, and that the different sexes of the 

 same species are marked by varying depth of color in the throat, the male possessing 

 a darker tinge of yellow than the female. There is also a slight difference of size 

 between the two sexes. Taking, however, the arguments which have been adduced on 

 both sides of the question the balance of probabilities lies strongly on the side of those 

 who consider the yellow-throated and the white-throated Martens to belong to different 

 species. 



The PINE MARTEN is so called because it is generally found in those localities where 

 the pine-trees abound, and is in the habit of climbing the pines in search of prey. 

 It is a shy and wary animal, withdrawing itself as far as possible from the sight of man ; 

 and although a fierce and dangerous antagonist when brought to bay, is naturally of a 

 timid disposition, and shuns collision with an enemy. 



It is a tree-loving animal, being accustomed to traverse the trunks and branches with 

 wonderful address and activity, and being enable by its rapid and silent movements to 

 steal unnoticed on many an unfortunate bird, and to seize it in its deadly gripe before the 



