The Smaller Carnivora 



131 



are said not to climb. Tlie skin is protected by tlncl<, close hair, so that bees cannot 

 sting through the fur. The skin is also very loose. If a dog bites it, the ratel can generally 

 twist round and bite l)ack. The African ratel is omnivorous. It eats snakes and birds. The 

 body of a colira has been found in the stomaeli of one. 



TUB WEASEL TRIRE. 

 No animals are more bloodthirsty and carnivorous than most of the Weasel Tribe. They 

 are also well equipped both in actual weapons and in activity of body, and have powers quite 

 out of proportion to their size. They are also gifted with magnificent coats, and constitute 

 the most valuable source of choice furs. 8able, Marten, ]Miid<, Wolverine, Ermine, Otters, and 

 several others are among the most highly prized. Their claws are sharp, but not retractile. 

 It is indeed fortunate that these creatures are so small in size, otherwise they would be 

 among the greatest enemies of animal life. As things are, they are useful in keeping down the 

 nundjers of creatures which, like tield-mice, moles, rabbits, and rats, might, and occasionally 

 do, become a pest. 



The Martens. 



There are two sjiecies of marten in Europe — the Beech- and the 1'ine-marten. The 

 latter has a yellow throat, the forjuer a white one. Tlie fur is almost as fine as salile. All 

 so-called Canadian sables are really martens. These animals are found throughout Northern 

 Europe and Northern Asia, in Japari, and all over Northern America. In Scotland the 

 pine-marten survives in the pine forests ; also in Ireland, where it is occasionally killed on 

 the Wicklow Mountains, near Dublin, and on the jMourne .Mountains. It is believed to 

 remain in Cumberland, Devonshire, and possibly in }iarts of Wales. It is a tree-loving animal, 

 and feeds mainly on squirrels, which it pursues through the Ijranches. It is also fond of 

 fruit. 3Ir. Charles St. John discovered this in a curious way. He noticed that his rasp- 

 berries were being stolen, so set a trap among the canes. Next day all he could see was a 

 heap of newly gathered raspberry leaves where the trap was. Stooping down to move them, a 

 marten sprang up and tried to defend itself. The poor beast had come to gather more rasjj- 

 berries, and had been caught. Unable to escape, it gathered the leaves near and concealed itself. 



The Sable. 



This is so little different 

 from the marten that some 

 ha\-e thought it only a 

 northern variety. That is not 

 the case, as both are found 

 in the same area, and no one 

 who knows anything of form 

 and colour could mistake the 

 true sable's fur. Tliis fur is 

 so fine and even that each 

 single hair tapers gradually 

 to a point : that is why 

 sable Ijrushes for painting are 

 so valualjle ; they always form 

 a point when wet. The price 

 of these brushes, winch are 

 of genuine sable fur, though 

 made up from fragments of 

 the worst- coloured or damaged 

 skins, varies yearly with the 

 price of sable in the market. 





i.w*'55i^^'*: 



RATEL. 

 Katels are cuiioiisly restless little animals, with a j-ieculiar trot-like walk. 



