THE MARTIN. 



and open. The body, fides, and tail, are entirely covered with a fine, thick, 

 downy fur, intermixed with long hair, the roots of which are afh-coloured, 

 the middle of a bright cheftnut, and the points black, giving a darkifh 

 brown appearance to the whole; the belly is rather paler, and the breaft and 

 throat are white; the legs and upper parts of the feet of a deep chocolate 

 colour; the under fides of the feet covered with a thick down, like that on 

 the body ; the feet broad, the claws white, large, and fharp, and well adapted 

 to the purpofe of climbing trees, but, like all others of the lame tribe, 

 incapable of being lheathed or unlheathed at pleafure. The cry of the Martin 

 is fharp and piercing, but it never utters it, except when in pain or diftrefs. 



The Martin is a great deftroyer of Rats, Mice, and other fmall 

 quadrupeds; poultry, game, and fmall birds are its conftant prey; and it is 

 remarkably fond of honey. Its retreat is generally in the hollow of fome 

 tree, towards the top, and fo fltuated as to place the animal in perfect 

 fecurity. It generally prefers the neft of a Squirrel, which, after that little 

 creature has taken great pains to complete, the Martin, by the ufual claim of 

 fuperior ftrength, difpoftefTes the ingenious architect, by killing it; after which 

 it enlarges its dimenlions, lines it with fofter materials, and in that fecure 

 and convenient retreat, brings forth its young. Its little family does not 

 conlift of more than three or four, which, like the reft of this tribe, are 

 brought forth with their eyes unopened, but quickly arrive at a ftate of 

 perfection. The female has but a fmall quantity of milk, in proportion to 

 her fize, but Ihe amply compenfates for this natural defect, by bringing home 

 eggs and live birds to her offspring, and thus early accuftoming them to a 

 life of carnage and plunder. As foon as the young are able to leave the neft, 

 they are led by their dam into the woods, where the birds at once recognife 

 their enemies, and fail not to attend them, as they do the Fox, with every 

 mark of animofity and terror. 



The Martin is valiant and courageous, and will attack animals much 

 larger and ftronger than itfelf; as the Sheep, the Hare, and even the Wild 

 Cat, which, though much ftronger, is always worried, and often killed, in 

 the combat. Indeed, thefe animals feldom meet without a mutual attack. 



