326 On the Fur Trade, and Fur-bearing Animals. 



gions of Europe and Asia.* Its fur is of the most perfect whiteness, 

 except the tip of its tail, which is of a brilliant shining black. With 

 these black lips tacked on the skins, they are beautifully spotted, pro- 

 ducing an effect often imitated, but never equalled in other furs. 

 The ermine is of the genus Mustek, (weasel,) and resembles the 

 common weasel in its form ; is from fourteen to sixteen inches from 

 the tip of the nose to the end of the tail. The body is from ten to 

 twelve inches long. It lives in hollow trees, river banks, and espe- 

 cially in beech forests ; preys on small birds, is very shy, sleeping 

 during the day, and employing the night in search of food. The fur 

 of the older animals is preferred to the younger. It is taken by 

 snares and traps, and sometimes shot with blunt arrows. Attempts 

 have been made to domesticate it ; but it is extremely wild, and has 

 been found untameable. 



The sable can scarcely be called second to the ermine. It is a 

 native of northern Europe and Siberia, and is also of the genus Mus- 

 tek. In Samoieda, Yakutsk, Kamschatka, and Russian Lapland, it 

 is found of the richest quahty, and darkest color. In its habits, it re- 

 sembles the ermine. It preys on small squirrels and birds, sleeps 

 by day and prowls for food during the night. It is so like the mar- 

 tin in every particular except its size, and the dark shade of its col- 

 or, that naturalists have not decided whether it is the richest and 

 finest of the martin tribe, or a variety of that species. f It varies in 

 dimensions from eighteen to twenty inches. 



The rich dark shades of the sable, and the snowy whiteness of 

 the ermine, the great depth, and the peculiar, almost flowing softness 

 of their skins and fur, have combined to gain them a preference in 

 all countries, and in all ages of the world. In this age they main- 

 tain the same relative estimate in regard to other furs, as when they 

 marked the rank of the proud crusader, and were emblazoned in 

 heraldry : but in most European nations, they are now worn promis- 

 cuously by the opulent. 



The martins from Northern Asia and the mountains of Kamschat- 

 ka are much superior to the American, though in every pack of 



* An animal called the stoat, a kind of ermine, is said to be found in North Amer- 

 ica, but very inferior to the European and Asiatic. 



t The finest fur, and the darkest color are most esteemed, and whether the differ- 

 ence arises from the age of the animal, or from some peculiarity of location is not 

 known. They do not vary more from the common martin, than the Aiabian horse, 

 from the shaggy Canadian. 



