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VERTEBRATES. 



Pine Martnn 



It is always easy to distinguisli it from the common weasel, because 

 the tip of its tail is uniformly of a deep black, while the edges of 

 its ears, and the extremities of its feet, are white. 



The Pine Marten, or Pine Weasel, is originally a native 

 of northern regions, where they are so numerous, that the quan- 

 tity of furs produced from this 

 animal alone, and carried into 

 other countries, is actually as- 

 tonishing. In temperate climates, 

 on the contrary, it is rarely, and 

 in warm climates never, to be 

 found. It is not uncommon in the 

 wild parts of Scotland, among the 

 wooded ravines of the mountains. Alike averse to open countries, 

 and to countries which are inhabited, it remains in the bosom of 

 some forest, ranges below through the labyrinths of the thicket, or 

 towers aloft upon the branches of trees. It subsists by the chase, 

 and destroys a prodigious quaiitity of birds, whose nests it searches 

 for, and invades, in order to devour the eggs. 



The Marten, supposed by many to be the same as the 

 Pine Marten, is yet entirely distinct. Its head is small, and ele- 

 gantly formed ; its eye is lively ; its limbs are supple ; its body is 

 astonishingly flexible ; and all its movements are quick. The back, 



sides, and tail of the marten 

 are covered with a fine downy 

 fur, with longer hair inter 

 mixed; the roots of an ash 

 color, the middle of a bright 

 chestnut, and the points black. 

 The head is brown, with a 

 slight cast of red; the leg's 

 and feet are of a chocolate color, and the throat and breast are 

 white. This animal, it is said, brings forth as often as the cat. 

 The growth of the young ones is very quick ; and hence it may 

 be inferred, that it is an animal whose life does not exceed eisht 

 or ten years. Its smell, which is agreeable, is like that of conn- 



