(_Mustela martes_)
The marten, or pine-marten, as it is commonly termed in order to
distinguish it from its continental relative the beech-marten (_Mustela
foina_), is one of those species which are on the verge of disappearing
from England and Wales. In the midland and south-eastern counties of
England the species appears to have become scarce during the first
half of the last century, and in most of these it was killed before
1860, although isolated instances of its occurrence in Hertfordshire,
Surrey, and Sussex have been recorded since that date. In Lincolnshire,
Norfolk, and Suffolk it survived, however, until the ’eighties; and
there have been recent occurrences in Leicestershire. The Lake District
and the western side of north and central Wales are at present the
strongholds of the species; and the isolated occurrences in other parts
of the country appear to be largely due to its wandering habits.
In the wilder districts of Scotland, wherever there is sufficient
forest, martens are still far from uncommon; and they are comparatively
abundant in parts of Scandinavia, France, Spain, Germany, Hungary,
and Russia. Among the characteristics of the species, the most
easily recognisable is the yellow or orange area on the throat; this
part being white in the beech-marten. That these two animals are
distinct species, and not merely local races of a single one, seems
to be demonstrated by their occurrence in the same districts. How
far eastwards the range of the marten extends does not appear to be
ascertained. In Siberia the species is, however, represented by the
closely allied sable (_M. zibellina_), which in turn gives place in
North America to the American marten (_M. americana_). All three might
perhaps, however, be regarded as geographical races of one and the same
species. Martens are essentially forest-animals, which prefer evergreen
trees, and are especially partial to woods where dead tree-trunks lie
rotting on the ground or form natural bridges from one stem to another.
Here they are as active as squirrels, and chase one another in the same
sportive manner. Much of their prey is, however, taken on the ground,
and they are deadly foes to hares, rabbits, pheasants, and partridges,
as well as to small birds of all kinds. They are also reported to eat
beech-mast, and if this be the case, berries may also very probably
form a portion of their diet.
The persistency with which a marten will follow the trail of a hare or
a rabbit, even in deep snow, is a character the species possesses in
common with the weasel tribe generally; and if it fail to pounce upon
the unsuspecting victim in the first few springs, it will settle down
to the chase as steadily as a beagle or a harrier.
[Illustration]
Martens are devoid of the unpleasant odour of the polecat, or foumart,
and are therefore suitable for taming. In their native forests they
associate in pairs, and make their nests high up in tall trees,
selecting in some instances a hole in the stem, but in other cases
taking possession of the deserted nests of wood-pigeons or other large
birds, or occasionally the drey of a squirrel. In this nest are born
early in the spring the six or seven young, which come into the world
blind, and are tended by their parents with assiduous care; and they
remain in its neighbourhood till they are nearly full grown.
In North America it has been observed that once in about every eight
or ten years martens more or less completely disappear from districts
in which they are at other times abundant. Strange to say, there is
no evidence of the prevalence of disease on such occasions; and it is
certain that the martens do not migrate after the manner of lemmings.
It has, however, been noticed by the trappers that just before their
disappearance none of the martens in the district will take a bait,
although at other times they are caught with comparative ease.
In the forest martens and sables are much less difficult to approach
than many other wild animals; but they nevertheless display a keen
aversion to the neighbourhood of human dwellings, which they never
voluntarily approach. Martens and sables, unlike their smaller
relative the stoat or ermine, do not turn white in winter; for the
very sufficient reason that, on account of being arboreal animals,
they would be extremely conspicuous in such a livery. They are so
relentlessly hunted for the sake of their valuable fur, that it is a
marvel they have not long since been exterminated from many portions of
their habitat. The value of the skins of the ordinary European marten
varies from eight to twelve shillings, but Russian and Siberian sable
commands a much higher price in the market.