THE STORY OF THE MARTEN. 
467 
the Eastern Himalaya. In the latter districts examples have been procured 
from Afghanistan in the west to Sikhim in the east, and also from Kumaun 
and Ladak; further eastwards it appears to be unknown. Throughout the 
Himalaya it is generally found at considerable elevations, although descend¬ 
ing as low as five thousand feet in the Gilgit district. It inhabits the whole 
of Central Europe and Italy, the warmer parts of European Russia as far as 
the Urals, as well as the Crimea; the western and northern slopes of the 
Caucasus, Palestine, Syria, and Asia Minor. It appears, however, to be un¬ 
known in Persia. 
THE PINE MARTEN. 
Over the greater part of Europe this marten is a commoner animal than 
the pine-marten, which it also exceeds in the greater boldness of its dispo¬ 
sition. Although it is a frequenter of woods and trees, it is also found not 
uncommonly among rocks and stones, and hence receives its German name 
of steinmarder. In barren districts like Ladak this marten must, of course, 
nearly always dwell among rocks. From its bold disposition it is fre¬ 
quently found in the neighborhood of human habitations, where it inflicts 
much damage on poultry. 
In its general mode of life the species closely resembles the pine-marten. 
The nest is carefully formed of hay and straw, and situated in a hole in a tree, 
in the crannies between rocks, or in an old barn or granary. The young, 
