The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-09-04

ana as being especially abundant in localities
| where the trees have been burned, but yet re-
main standing. According to Hearne il avoids
barren lands, like those tracts lying north OF
the Churchill River and east Of Great Slave
| Lake. From a like cause absence of forests,
| this animal, in Richardson's opinion, is not
found in the Tchutski district of Siberia, nor
| upon the Arctic tundra generally. As in Asia,
| SO here, its range he thought was limited by
that of the woods. But this idea is an erro-
neous one, since later observation has shown
that " in some longitudes at least if not in all,
! it reaches the Arctic coast" Sables abound in
the valley of the Mackenzie and in Alaska; in
fact. west of the Rocky Mountains, thoy ex-
tend from an indefinite northern limit south
| ward to the Yuba River of California Dr. Rich
| ardson distinguishes those of the NepgOn dis
| trict north Of Lake Superior on account of
their exceptionally fine fur
Allen discovered these martens in the forest
| areas of Wyoming and Colorado, but Dr. Coues
| could find no trace of the creature in the un-
wooded parts of Dakota. They are common in
the timbered regions of Canada and Nova Sco-
| tia, as also in those of Labrador aud New Bruins
wick. DIR. Emmons reports them rs being not
unusual rs late rs 1910 within the pine and
beech forests of Massachusetts, (where Allen
asserts that they yet remain, and so also in the
mountains of Pennsylvania and New York,
although in greatly diminished numbers 1t
/
throughout the United States, in the eastern
part of which its range in this direction is ex-
ceeded by that of its relation, the pekan.
Stables, though not generally deficient in
cunning, want the aStuteneSs of some of their
congeners in avoiding capture. They are
caught in wooden traps constructed on the spot,
and arranged on the
PRINCIPLE OF A DEADFALL.
line of these is sometimes several miles in
length, and as trapping in unsettled districts
does not seem to have perceptbly diminished
their numbers, this occupation would be ex-
tremely profitable but for the robberes perpe-
trated by wolves fishers and more especially the
wolverine, which, not content with carrying off
its game like these other deprcdators breaks
mp the traps also, and hides their fragments.
| Such procedure is clearly against its own in
terest, and rs a manifestation of that instinct
10 which il is attributed, may fairly be con-
trasted with the assumed action of the same
faculty in preventing sables when at their
minimum every 10 years from being caught at
ali, otherwise than as an exception TO the gen.
eral rule.
The season for sable hunting extends through
the cold months, since the pclt is valueless in
warm weather. Any kind of meat or scrap of
animal garbage will serve for bait.
As was said, the period of Turing depends
upon the latitude, but in the far North trappers
are busy from October 10 April, and in that
time few human beings encounter greater hard
ships, experience more dangerous vicissitudes
OF climate, or are engaged amid scenes calcu-
lated to impress the imagination so profoundly.
Pine martens are sagacious, shy of mans
proximity, and industrious-all qualities cal
culated TO perpetuate the race; and besides
this, though breeding but once year, they are
quite prolific, the number of young at birth
averaging from six 10 eight. They live by
preference, SAYS Lockington, in hollow trees, or
otherwise, and more rarely underground and
IN rocks. Both DIR. Coues and tho authority
just referred TO state that this species has no
particular partiality for the pine, and that it
irequents forests where, in many instances,
coniieTOus trees are comparatively rare. 1t is
probably called the pine marten simply because
this kind Of timber predominates throughout
the areas in which the animal is distributed.
Settlers never
SUFFER- FROM sABLEs
rs they do from minks and stOats. for these
creatures avoid their vicinity and carefully
conceal themselves in the depths Of the forests.
Nevertheless they are highly productions, and
although living chiefly upon mice-most likely
for the reason that these are more easily come
by than other pTey-they also devour vast
numbers of the weaker mammals, birds aRd
their eggs. and certain reptiles. This marten
IS extremely active, most expert climber and
very persistent in its search for food IL
catches squirrels among the boughs and also
surprises the sleeping grouse aud the hare on
It's form; bat for the most part seems to be
content with rodents aud the inscctivora found
IN those regions IL inhabits From some &C.
counts it would appear that sables consume
various kinds OF nuts and berries, aud that
they are very fond Of honey. Such statements
require confirmation, however. for, while ii is
true that q wild animal pressed by hunger may
often depart widely from its accustomed diet,
ii is by no means the case that il will, or can,
transcend to any great extent (at least in state
Of nature) the limitations imposed by its organ
ization, and the creature in question is strictly
carnivor0us.
Like other Musteld9, this species is provided
with glands which give il a decided Odor. But
in the present instance the scent IL mild aud
musky, aud has nothing Of the oncnsiveness
belonging to the secretion OF minks or polecats,
a Circumstance 10 which IL is indebted for the
title sweet mart" given in contradistinction
TO that Of foul mart, borne by the latter animal.
The phygiognomy is also much more pleasing
than that Of weasels. aud il is devoid Of their
fierce yiudictive and sanguinary disposition.
Those who have tried the experiment Of domes-
tcatIug sablcs say that while al first the animal
violently Tesents restraint, 1t soon becomes
accustomed to captivity and makes quite an
agreeable pet.