_Mustela foina_: the beech-marten, stone-marten or white-breasted
marten.--Distinguished from the following by the greater breadth of
the skull, and some minute but constant dental characters, by the dull
greyish-brown colour of the fur of the upper parts and the pure white
of the throat and breast. It inhabits the greater part of the
continent of Europe, but is more southern than the next in its
distribution, not being found in Sweden or Norway.
_M. martes_, the pine-marten (see figure).--Fur rich dark brown; under
fur reddish-grey, with clear yellow tips; breast spot usually yellow,
varying from bright orange to pale cream-colour or yellowish-white.
Length of head and body 16 to 18 in., of tail (including the hair) 9
to 12 in. This species is extensively distributed throughout northern
Europe and Asia, and was formerly common in most parts of Great
Britain and Ireland. It is still found in the northern counties of
England and North Wales, but in decreasing numbers. In Scotland it is
rare, but in Ireland may be found in almost every county occasionally.
Though commonly called "pine-marten," it does not appear to have any
special preference for coniferous trees.
[Illustration: The Pine-Marten (_Mustela martes_).]
Next comes _M. zibellina_, the sable (German, _Zobel_ and _Zebel_;
Swedish, _sabel_; Russian, _sobel_, a word probably of Turanian
origin), which closely resembles the last, if indeed it differs except
in the quality of the fur--the most highly valued of that of all the
group. The sable is found chiefly in eastern Siberia.
Very distinct is the brilliantly coloured orange-and-black Indian
marten (_M. flavigula_), found from the Himalaya and Ceylon to Java.
The North American _M. americana_ is closely allied to the pine-marten
and Asiatic sable. The importance of the fur of this animal as an
article of commerce may be judged of from the fact that 15,000 skins
were sold in one year by the Hudson's Bay Company as long ago as 1743.
It is ordinarily caught in wooden traps of simple construction, being
little enclosures of stakes or brush in which the bait is placed upon
a trigger, with a short upright stick supporting a log of wood, which
falls upon its victim on the slightest disturbance. A line of such
traps, several to a mile, often extends many miles. The bait is any
kind of meat, a mouse, squirrel, piece of fish or bird's head. It is
principally trapped during the colder months, from October to April,
when the fur is in good condition, as it is nearly valueless during
the shedding in summer. It maintains its numbers partly in consequence
of its shyness, which keeps it away from the abodes of men, and partly
because it is so prolific, bringing forth six to eight young at a
litter. Its home is sometimes a den under ground or beneath rocks, but
oftener the hollow of a tree, and it is said to take possession of a
squirrel's nest, driving off or devouring the rightful proprietor.
The pekan or Pennant's marten, also called fisher marten, though there
appears to be nothing in its habits to justify the appellation, is the
largest of the group, the head and body measuring from 24 to 30 in.,
and the tail 14 to 18 in. It is also more robust in form than the
others, its general aspect being more that of a fox than a weasel; in
fact its usual name among the American hunters is "black fox." Its
general colour is blackish, lighter by mixture of brown or grey on the
head and upper fore part of the body, with no light patch on the
throat, and unlike other martens generally darker below than above. It
was generally distributed in wooded districts throughout the greater
part of North America, as far north as Great Slave Lake, lat. 63° N.,
and Alaska, and extending south to the parallel of 35°; but at the
present time is almost exterminated in the settled parts of the United
States east of the Mississippi. (W. H. F.)