92 AXIiMALS IN MENAGERIES. 



we are again indebted to Dr. Richardson for making us 

 better acquainted with a British quadruped by observing 

 its habits in America. It is one of the most important 

 fur-bearing animals, in regard to commerce, in the ter- 

 ritories of British America, and we accordingly intro- 

 duce it into our " menagerie," as possessing general 

 interest. 



The pine marten of Europe appears, in every re- 

 spect, to be the same species as that of America ; and it 

 is distributed on the latter continent, over all the 

 northern districts clothed with wood, from the Atlantic 

 to the Pacific ; it extends, in the same situations, over 

 the Asiatic side of Behring's Straits ; but in both con- 

 tinents is either very rare, or entirely unknown, in such 

 parts as are destitute of wood. Particular breeds or 

 races appear to inhabit certain districts ; that of Nipigan, 

 for instance, on the north of Lake Superior, has long 

 been noted for its black and valuable marten skins. 



The habits of this animal are thus described by 

 Dr. Richardson: — In winter it preys upon mice, hares, 

 and partridges, and in summer upon eggs and small 

 birds. In severe seasons, and when pressed for food, it 

 does not reject carrion, and is very ingenious in disco- 

 vering the hoards of meat and fish laid up by the 

 natives, which it invariably pillages if the smallest 

 opening is left by which it can enter. When pursued and 

 its retreat cut off, it sets up its hair, arches its back, and 

 makes a hissing noise like a cat : it will seize a dog by 

 the nose, and bite so hard as frequently to deter its ad- 

 versary from pursuit. The marten may easily be tamed, 

 and it soon acquires an attachment for its master, but it 

 never becomes docile. The flesh is occasionally eaten, 

 but is not much esteemed. The females are smaller than 

 the males. They burrow in the ground. 



The fur is fine, is much used for trimmings, and 

 is frequently dyed to imitate sable and other expensive 

 sorts. Its importance as an article of commerce may 

 be estimated from the fact mentioned by Dr. Richardson, 

 that upwards of 100,000 skins have long been collected 



