THE MARTIN. 



Notwithstanding this ferocity of difpofition, the Martin feems capable of 

 being tamed. Gefner fays, " he kept one, which was very tame, and 

 extremely playful and entertaining: it ufed to go to the houies of the 

 neighbours, and always came home when it wanted food; it was 

 particularly fond of a Dog, with which it had been bred up, and would 

 play with it, as Cats do, lying on its back, and pretending to bite without 

 anger or injury." The Count de BufFon fays, he kept one tame, which, 

 though it had loll its ferocity, did not difcover any marks of attachment, 

 and ftill continued fo wild as to require being chained. On the appearance of 

 a Cat, it inftantly prepared for war, and, if any of the poultry came within 

 its reach, flew upon them with great eagernefs. It made frequent efcapes 

 from its confinement; at firft it returned after fome hours abfence, but 

 without appearing pleafed ; the time of abfence of each fubfequent elopement 

 gradually increafed, and at laft it took its final departure. He remarks, that 

 this individual drank frequently, that it would continue fleeping for two 

 days without intermifiion, and would then remain awake for as long a 

 period of time. When preparing for fleep, it formed its body into a circle, 

 hid its head, and covered it with its tail. 



The Martin is an inhabitant of Europe and North America, but is moft 

 plentiful in the latter. It is like wife found in all the northern parts of the 

 world, from Siberia to China and Canada. They are every where hunted for 

 their furs, which are held in great eftimation, and are moft valuable when 

 the animal is taken in the beginning of winter. In England they are ufed 

 to line the robes of magistrates. The moft valuable part of the fkin is that 

 which is browneft, extending along the back bone. They form a confiderable 

 article of commerce; above twelve thoufand of thefe Ikins being annually 

 imported into England from Hudfon's Bay, and above thirty thoufand from 

 Canada, 



