SABLE. 
375 
its hold, and consequently the upper beam bibs 
upon the shoulders of the animal, and holds him 
fast. 
Sables frequent the banks of rivers, and the 
thickest parts of the woods. They live in holes 
under ground, and especially under the roots of 
trees ; but they sometimes make their nest (con- 
sisting of moss, small twigs, and grass) in the 
hollows of trees. The female brings forth in the 
spring, and produces from three to five at a time. 
In winter they live on berries of different kinds ; 
but in the summer time, before these arc ripe, they 
devour hares, weasels, ermines, and other small 
animals. 
The sable is a lively and active animal ; and leaps 
with great agility from tree to tree, in pursuit of 
birds or squirrels. It is said to feed also on wild 
fruits and berries. M. Gmelin saw two of these 
animals that had been in some measure domesti- 
cated. Whenever they saw a cat, they would rise 
on their hind feet to prepare For a combat. In the 
night, they were extremely restless and active ; 
but during the day, and particularly after eating, 
they generally slept so sound for half an hour, or 
an hour, that they might be pushed, shaken, and 
even pricked, without being awakened. 
The chase of the sable, according to Mr. Pen- 
nant, was, during the more barbarous periods of 
the Russian empire, the principal task of the un- 
happy exiles who were banished into Siberia ; and 
who, as well as the soldiers sent there. M ere obliged 
to furnish, within a given time, a certain quantity 
of furs ; but as Siberia is now become more 
populous, the sables have, in a great measure,, 
quitted it, and retired farther to the north and east* 
into the desert forests and mountains, 
