THE PINE MABTEN* 



THE fur of this animal is highly prized, and an article of extensive commerce. The animal is found in 

 the immense to rests of the north, both of Europe and America, where it lives like. a squirrel among the 

 trees, which it climbs with the utmost facility. It is said to usurp the nest of a squirrel or bird, the 

 original possessor of which has fallen a victim to its rapacity ; and in this homestead, which another's 

 abours have founded, the female rears her young. The general colour of the fur, which consists, as is 

 usual, of two sorts of hair, is a deep chesntit, except on the throat and margin of the ears, where the 

 i hesnut colour abruptly gives place to a fine yellow. In summer the tints not only become lighter 

 but the fur shorter; and the toes, which during the winter were well protected with woolly hair, are 

 deprived of their covering, and the claws are completely exposed. 



According to Sir John Richardson, the Pine Marten inhabits the woody districts in the northern 

 parts of America, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and it has been observed to be especially 

 abundant where the trees have been killed by fire, but are still standing. Particular races of martens, 

 distinguished by the fineness and dark colour of their fur, appear to inhabit certain rocky districts 

 The rocky and mountainous but woody district of the Nipigon, on the north side of Lake Superior, has 

 long been noted for its black and valuable marten-skins. 



The importation of them from the territories of the Hudson's Bay Company and Canada is great ; 

 upwards of 100,000 skins have long been annually imported into Great Britain. 



The author just quoted gives the length of the head and body at from 1 8 to 20 inches. The marten 

 preys on birds' eggs, mice, hares, and partridges. It does not reject carrion, and often destroys the 

 hoards of meat and fish laid up by the natives, when they have accidentally left a crevice by which it 

 can enter. When its retreat is cut off, it shows its teeth, sets up its hair, and hisses like a cat. It will 

 seize a dog by the nose, and bite so hard, that, unless the latter is well used to the combat, it escapes. 

 It is easily tamed, and becomes attached to its master, but is not docile. 



THE BEECH MARTEN.f 



THE head of the Beech Marten is somewhat triangular ; the muzzle pointed ; the nose extending a little 



beyond the lips ; the eyes large, prominent, and remarkably lively ; 



the ears largo, open, and rounded ; the body much elongated and 



very flexible ; the tail long, thick, and somewhat bushy ; the feet 



rather short ; the toes generally naked, but at times, probably in 

 the winter, covered beneath with a thin, short 

 hair. The fur is of two sorts : the inner ex- 

 tremely short, soft, copious, and of a light yel- 

 lowish gray colour ; the oiiter very long, 

 shining, ash-coloured at the roots, brown at the 

 extremity, but of different degrees of intensity at 

 different parts of the body. The length of the 

 head and body is one foot six inches ; of the tail 

 nine inches six lines. 

 This animal is the bela graig of the Welsh, the Stone Marten of the English, and la fouine of the 



French. It is found in northern and temperate Europe, and Western Asia. 



TEETH OF STOAT. 



TEETH OK KFECII MAKTKX. 



THE SABLE. J 



A STILL more celebrated fur is that of the Sable, a single skin having, it is said, sometimes sold for 

 .11 or \5. The average ratio is, however, from 1 to .10, according to the quality, there being a 



* Mu3tela abietum. 



f JIustela foina. Gmelin. M. fagorum. 



Bfttsteia Zibellina. 



