462 The Marten. 



still holding on. la England it takes advantage of the galleries 

 of the mole for its winter retreat, as well as the rabbit burrow. 



Captain Lyon, R.N., saw the Ermine hunting the footsteps of 

 mice in the North as a hound avouM hunt a fox, and observed their 

 burrows in the snow, which were pushed up in the same manner 

 as the tracks of moles in Britain. These passages ran in a ser- 

 pentine direction, and near the hole or dwelling-place the circles 

 were multiplied as if to render the approach more intricate. 



The same graphic voyager gives a lively description of a captive 

 Ermine : — " He was a fierce little fellow, and the instant he obtain- 

 ed day light in his new dwelling, he flew at the bars, and shook 

 them with the greatest fury, uttering a very shrill passionate cry, 

 and emitting the strong musky smell which I formerly noticed. 

 No threats or teasing could induce him to retire to the sleeping- 

 place, and whenever he did so of his own accord, the slightest 

 rubbing on the bars was sufficient to bring him out to the attack 

 of his tormentors. He soon took food from the hand, but not unti^ 

 he had first used every exertion to reach and bite the fingers which 

 conveyed it. This boldness gave me great hopes of being able to 

 keep my little captive alive through the winter, but he was killed 

 by an accident." 



Sir John Richardson states that the Ermine is a bold animal, 

 and often domesticates itself in the habitations of the fur-traders, 

 where it may be heard the live-long night pursuing the white- 

 footed mouse {Mus leucopus). He remarks that, according to 

 Indian report, this species brings forth ten or twelve young at a 

 time. In this country it produces about five in April or May. 



In Siberia, Ermines are taken in traps baited with flesh ; and in 

 Norway they are either shot with blunt arrows, or taken in traps 

 made of two flat stones, one being propped up with a stick, to which 

 is fastened a baited string. This the animal nibbles, when the 

 stone falls and crushes it. Two logs of wood are used for the same 

 purpose and in the same manner in Lapland. 



