THE BEECH MARTIN. 347 



considerable modifications, according to the time of year and the part of the world in 

 which it is found. It has rather a wide range of locality, being a native of the northern 

 parts of Europe and of a very large portion of Northern America. 



THE BEECH MARTEN seems to be of rather more frequent occurrence than the Pine 

 Marten, from which animal it may be distinguished by the white tint of the fur on its 

 throat and the upper portion of its breast. On account of this circumstance, it is 

 sometimes called the White-throated Marten. A slight yellow tinge is sometimes 

 observed on its throat. There are several names by which this animal is known, such 

 as the Marteron, the Martern, and the Stone Marten. 



In its destructive habits and its thirst for blood, it resembles the animal which has 

 already been described, and has earned for itself the title of " domestic," which was 

 applied to it by Gesner, because it is in the habit of prowling about human habitations 



BEECH MARTEN. Maries Folna. 



and of concealing itself in the barns and outhouses, for the purpose of gaining access 

 to the poultry. 



The Marten seems to be easily tamed to a certain degree, but beyond that point its 

 wild instincts are too firmly rooted for speedy eradication. One of these creatures was 

 procured when young by a shoemaker, and remained with him until it had reached 

 maturity. It then escaped from its adopted home, and commenced a series of depreda- 

 tions among the fowls which were kept by the neighbors, returning every night, and 

 concealing itself in the house. Its destructive energies became so troublesome that 

 it was at last sentenced to death by the united voices of those who had suffered from 

 its depredations, and paid the penalty of its many robberies. 



Another Marten was captured in a rather curious manner. It had been driven from 

 its home, and, in order to escape the dogs that were chasing it in hot pursuit, leaped over 

 a precipice, and fell from a height of forty or fifty feet, without meeting with anything to 

 break its fall. It lay on the ground as if dead, and one of the spectators descended the 

 cliff, and captured the Marten. However, it soon gave indications of returning animation 

 by scratching and biting so fiercely that the captor was glad to put it into a bag. It soon 



