466 
THE STORY OF THE MARTEN. 
Europe and Asia; and in former years the animal was common in the British 
Isles, where it is now restricted to the wilder districts. From the specific 
designation of this marten, it would naturally be supposed that it exhibits an 
especial predilection for pine-forests. This, however, does not appear to be 
the case, and it would seem that the name was given merely from the cir¬ 
cumstances that pine forests are abundant in many of the districts which it 
inhabits. 
Like the other members of the group, it is chiefly tree-frequenting 
in its habits, and thereby differs markedly from the weasels, which are 
more fond of the ground. Creeping from branch to branch in silent and 
stealthy pursuit of birds, squirrels, and other small animals, their sharp 
and long claws afford them a firm and secure hold of the bark, whilst the 
long and somewhat bushy tail aids them in maintaining their balance on the 
boughs; the ears, too, are large and open, a circumstance which is of great 
advantage to them in discovering and pursuing their prey, amidst the dense 
foliage in which they love to conceal themselves. Martens will, however, 
frequently descend to the ground, when they will destroy mice, rats, and 
moles, as well as rabbits and hares, and, it is said, even lambs. They are 
also deadly enemies to domestic poultry of all kinds; while in the neighbor¬ 
hood of the sea-coast they are also reported to feed on mussels. When 
domesticated, it is said on good authority that they will eat fruit. 
Although it was long considered that the beech-marten was also found 
in the British Islands, it is now ascertained that the present species is the 
only member of the group that has ever occurred there. In the wilder dis¬ 
tricts of Scotland, as well as in the north of England, Wales, and Ireland, 
the marten still holds its own; while specimens are occasionally captured in 
districts where it is now practically extinct. 
The beech or white-breasted marten, formerly supposed to be an in¬ 
habitant of the British Islands, is generally of a greyish brown color, al¬ 
though the tint may vary from a whitish brown to deep blackish brown, 
with the tail and limbs generally darker than the body. The light area 
on the throat and chest, which may vary considerably in extent in different 
individuals, is invariably white; while the color of the under-fur varies from 
ashy to pure white. The length of the head and body is about 18 inches, 
and that of the tail, with the hair at the end, 13 inches. 
This species is a more southern form than the last, being widely dis¬ 
tributed in Europe, but not reaching either the British Islands or Scan¬ 
dinavia; while to the eastward it extends into Asia as far as Turkestan and 
