MAMMALIA. - 
[17.] 4. Musrera Marres. (Linn.) The Pine-Martin. 
Genus. Mustela. Linn. Sub-genus. Mustela. Cuvier. 
Mustela martes. Linn. GMELIN, vol. i. p. 95. 
Pine-martin. PENNANT’s Arctic Zool., vol.i. p. 77. 
Mustela martes. Sasine, Franklin’s Journ. p.651. Haruan’s Fauna, p. 67. 
Pine-Martin. Gopman’s Nat. Hist., vol.i. p. 200. 
Wawpeestan. CrerInprans. Wappanow. Mownzontes. 
Wawbeechins. Atconeuins. Sable. AmERICAN FUR-DEALERS. 
_ Martin. Hupson’s Bay Company’s Lists. 
The Pine-martin inhabits the woody districts in the northern parts of America, 
from the Atlantic to the Pacific, in great numbers, and has been observed to be 
particularly abundant where the trees have been killed by fire, but are still 
standing. It is very rare, as Hearne has remarked, in the district lying north of 
Churchill river, and east of Great Slave Lake, known by the name of Chepewyan 
or Barren Lands. A similar district, on the Asiatic side of Behring’s Straits, 
twenty-five degrees of longitude in breadth, and inhabited by the Tchutski, is 
described by Pennant as equally unfrequented by the Martin, and for the. same 
reason,—the want of trees. The limit of its northern range in America is like that 
of the woods, about the sixty-eighth degree of latitude, and it is said to be found 
as far south as New-England. Particular races of Martins, distinguished by the 
fineness and dark colours of their fur, appear to inhabit certain rocky districts. 
The rocky and mountainous but woody district of the Nipigon, on the north side 
* of Lake Superior, has long been noted for its black and valuable Martin-skins. 
The Martin preys on mice, hares, and partridges, and in summer, on small birds’ 
eggs, &c. A partridge’s head, with the feathers, is the best bait for the log traps 
in which this animal is taken. It does not reject carrion, and often destroys the 
hoards of meat and fish laid up by the natives, when they have accidentally left a 
crevice by which it can enter. The Martin, when its retreat is cut off, shows its 
teeth, sets up its hair, arches its back, and makes a hissing noise like a cat. It will 
seize a dog by the nose, and bite so hard, that unless the latter is accustomed to 
the combat, it suffers the little animal to escape. It may be easily tamed, and it 
soon acquires an attachment for its master, but it never becomes docile. Its flesh 
is occasionally eaten, though it is not prized by the Indians. The females are 
smaller than the males. They burrow in the ground, carry their young about six 
weeks, and bring forth from four to seven in a litter about the latter end of April. 
Mr. Graham says that this animal is sometimes troubled with epilepsy. 
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