GROUP OF Till': MARTENS, 



In this genus, comprising a large number 

 of species, three groups may be distinguished 

 by the variations in the distribution of the 

 colours of the fur: the True Polecats, the 

 Weasels, and the Visons. The characters 

 of these groups are easily recognized. Tlie 

 polecats have the sides and back lighter 

 than the under side; in 

 the weasels, on the other 

 hand, the back is darker, - -^^^ .% =J^^~- 

 the under side very light ; 

 the visons, lastly, are 

 pretty uniform in colour, 

 but have the under side 

 a little lighter than the 

 rest of the fur. 



The Polecat {^Piiioriits 

 fcetidus {Mitsicla puto- 

 rius)), fig. 117, does not 

 quite attain the size ot 

 the beech-marten, which 

 it resembles \<tr\ much 

 in its mode of life. Like 

 it the polecat prefers to 

 live near human habita- 

 tions, where it can tind 

 secure retreats. It com- 

 mits the same kind ot 

 massacres, is no less 

 cunning and adroit, and 

 is not less detested, at 



Fig. n8.— The Ferret yPiitorim fii 



While the beech-marten eats reptiles only in 

 cases ot the utmost need, the polecat appears 

 to be verv fond of lizards and serpents as 

 well as trogs. Experiments ha\e shown that 

 he possesses the same power ot resisting the 

 poison of vipers as that which the hedgehog 

 enjoys. \'ipers, whose bite would intallibly 

 have killed a dog, did 

 not do the slightest in- 

 jury to a polecat, A\hich 

 linally devoured them 

 after a hard battle. The 

 tenacity of life otherwise 

 displayed by these ani- 

 mals is \ery great and 

 known to all hunters. 



The polecat inhabits 

 the same reoions as the 

 beech-marten, but does 

 not venture into northern 

 lands, preferring temper- 

 ate reo'ions. fiis tur, 

 dark brown underneath, 

 brownish yellow on the 

 sides and back, is much 

 inferior in \alue to that 

 of the marten. The 

 downy hair is, indeed, 

 just as fine and soft, but 

 the bristly hairs are 

 longer and coarser. The 

 horrible stench, which can 



least in certain districts. 

 In other districts, on the contrary, the ser- , only with difficulty be removed, is also a cause 

 vices which it renders in the destruction of its lower value. Germany, and especially 

 of mice, rats, field-mice, and even hamsters, ^ the Bavarian plateaux, yield the best speci- 

 are highly prized. Since it hunts only at ■ mens. The animal is hunted in the same 

 night the poultry-yards may, in case of neces- way 

 sity, be defended against him, so that the 

 slaughter of a few domestic fowls does not 



o 



outweio-h his services in the fields and barns. 

 But since he is fond of laying up stores he 

 makes himself hated, not only on account ot 

 his own bad smell, but also because ot the 

 stench of the larder which he keeps in his 

 hiding-places. 



One other quality distinguishes the polecat. 



as the beech-marten, and he shares the 

 sensitiveness of the latter to harsh metallic 



sounds. 



The Ferret (^Piiforiiis LVustcla) fiiro), fig. 

 118, is only a trained variety of the polecat, 

 with white or yellowish fur, rather darker 

 underneath, and red eyes. Like all albinos 

 the ferret is less lively and has less power 

 of resisting external influences than his 

 more sensitive to trost and 



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It IS 



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