y*-* MusTELiuiii. MAMilALIA Mustei.id.t!. 
native of the British isles, as well as of Europe generally. 
THE POLECAT {Mustela 2 }utorius) or foumart is a 
It occurs abundantly in rocky mountainous districts, 
most ferocious creature (fig. 24). “ Its appetite for 
and is perhaps less strictly arboreal in its habits than 
slaughter, which seems never to be satiated as long as 
the pine marten. According to 
Fig. 24. 
Mr. Bell, “ the female makes her 
, / 
activity, its movements are at once 
Tlie Polecat (Mustela putorius). 
rapid and gracile. Its limbs are elastic, and its body 
any living thing remains within its reach, rendering it 
lithe and flexible, and it bounds and springs over the 
a most ruinous neighbour to those who rear fowls or 
ground with equal speed and grace. It is, however. 
keep up a head of game. Not only the young birds 
wild and untameable to a great degree, if captured 
fall victims to it, but the parents also ; nor are even 
when full grown or after a very early age.” The food 
geese or turkeys safe. We remember an instance of a 
of the beech marten, in common with its allied forms. 
hen and a whole brood of chickens being killed by one 
consists of birds, squirrels, and other small quadrupeds. 
of these destro 3 'ers in a single night ; and upon another 
THE PEKAN [Martes Canadiensis) of the Canadians, 
occasion, seven or eight nearly full-grown turkeys. 
is known by the title of the Fisher or fishing marten. 
The brain and the blood seem to be its choicest por- 
and it has likewise several other names. It presents a 
tions. The bodies of the dead are carried off to its 
more canine look about the face than the sable or 
haunts, which are generally in some copse or wmod 
other martens. The head is rounded posteriorly, con- 
near a farm or in the heart of a preserve, whence it 
traeting suddenly in front to terminate in a rather 
issues on its deadly errand in the evening, generally 
sharply-pointed muzzle. The ears are comparatively 
soon after sunset, or when it grow's dusk. No vermin 
small. It is a stouter -built animal than the pine 
is placed wdth more satisfaction upon the keeper’s 
marten. The fore-limbs are remarkably strong and 
tree; for none commits more havoc, if so much, among 
short, the claws of the feet being sharp and much 
the game. Beginning with the egg, it persecutes all 
curved. As in the pine marten, the soles of the feet 
the game birds through every period of life, and is a 
are completely enveloped in closely-set hairs, the 
far more determined enemy than the stoat itself to the 
several digits being connected together at their common 
hare and rabbit warren. The fox, as is well known. 
base by a short, web-like expansion of the skin. The 
will do much to keep down the pheasants, and espe- 
fur is rather coarse, and O’f a dark-brown colour. 
cially the rabbits and hares ; but even this wily and 
lighter at the fore part of the body, but almost black 
powerful invader is not so mischievous as the species 
behind, as well as on the throat, belly, and limbs. 
of which we are treating. Where a fox will kill one. 
White spots are occasionally seen between the fore and 
a polecat will immolate ten, to say nothing of eggs. 
hind legs. The fur has a strong musky odour, and its 
No vertebrated animal seems to come amiss to its 
quality is inferior to that of the sable. Although less 
murderous nature. Bewick relates that during a 
sought after by the American fur-dealers, several 
severe storm, a foumart was traced in the snow from 
thousand pekans are destroyed annually for the sake 
the side of a rivulet to its hole at some distance from 
of their skins. Sir John Richardson states that it 
it. As it was observed to have made frequent trips. 
feeds principally on mice. He adds — “ It lives in the 
and as other marks were to be seen in the snow which 
woods, preferring damp places in the vicinity of water. 
could not easily be accounted for, it was thought a 
in which respect it differs from the marten, which is 
matter worthy of great attention. Its hole was accord- 
generally found in the driest spots of the pine forests. 
ingly examined, and five fine eels were discovered to 
The fisher is said to prey much on frogs in the summer 
be the fruit ot its nocturnal excursions. The marks 
season ; but I have been informed that its favourite 
in the snow w'ere made by the motion of the eels in the 
food is the Canada porcupine, which it kills by biting 
quadruped’s month. In Loudoiis Magazine is an 
on the bell}'. It does not seek its food in the water. 
account of a polecat that was hunted to her nest. 
although, like the pine marten, it will feed on the 
which held five young ones in a comfortable bed of 
hoards of frozen fish laid up by the residents.” The 
withered grass. From a side hole the narrator picked 
pekan is widely distributed over the upper half of the 
out forty large frogs and two toads alive, but capable 
North American continent. The female produces from 
of sprawling only ; for the old polecat had stricken 
two to four young at a single litter. 
them all with palsy by a bite through the brain of 
