ORDER CARNASSIER. 293 



vorous regimen, and enables them, in the same ratio, to 

 masticate vegetable matter, and consequently indicates a 

 slight diminution in the cruelty and ferocity of their nature. 

 The muzzle of the former is rather large, and their claws 

 sharp, and slightly retractile. 



Every remove in the works of nature is by a gentle grada- 

 tion ; nothing is abrupt : but although these gradations are 

 observable in different groups of the Weasels, it is hardly 

 to be expected, that the character of each will differ from 

 its preceding subdivision very apparently. They are only 

 to be observed by minute inspection, which is equally neces- 

 sary to discover their consequences ; and the means of the 

 latter investigation are much less in our power than the 

 former. If the cruel experiment were to be tried of keeping 

 the Polecat and Marten without animal food, and on vege- 

 tables only, probability indicates that the latter would be 

 the survivor. 



The Beech Marten {Mustela Fagorum Ray,) was first 

 described by Gesner and Aldrovandus, under the epithet 

 domestical which has more reference to the conduct of the 

 animal, in secreting itself in outhouses and buildings, than 

 to any peculiar disposition it evinces to become tame and 

 the associate of mankind, which it will not do unless it is 

 taken quite young, and brought up in confinement. It was 

 afterwards mentioned by Ray, who calls it Martes Fagorum ; 

 whence the French name of it, la Fouine; although it does 

 not appear to be particularly fond of the beech-tree. 



The body, from the nose to the anus, is about sixteen 

 inches long, and the tail eight inches ; the fur is of two 

 sorts ; the first is long and close, and the lower half of it 

 of an ash-colour, but the upper half is brown-black, having 

 a reddish tinge in some lights ; the second is short, close, 

 very soft and fine, and of a whitish or pale ash-colour : it is 

 visible through the long hairs. The legs and tail are 

 blackish ; the throat and neck of a clear white. 



