io8 The Irish Naturalist. 



preserved. One was taken at The Argory about 24 years ago, as I ani 

 informed by Captain Shelton, who kindly sent me the skin for 

 inspection. 

 Co. Cavan. — No records. 



Co. Donegal,.— Thompson says:— "J. V. Stewart notes the yellow- 

 breasted Marten in his catalogue of the mammalia of this county." It is 

 also mentioned by the late Col. J. Whyte. About 25 years ago a pair 

 nested in the thatch of an outhouse near Coxtown. Major Hamilton, of 

 Ballintra, writes that in one year, between 1865 and '70, he shot one and 

 trapped another, and he had trapped some before these dates. He says, 

 " They used to steal plums on the garden wall, and be caught on 

 " the top of it, but I cannot tell the dates or numbers. I have never 

 "seen any since, though I have heard of one." Mr. H. C. Hart saw one 

 at Glenalla in 1879, and in 1880 two were obtained, one at Horn Head, 

 and one at Ards. About 1S83 two were trapped in a demesne three miles 

 from Ballyshannon, and in September, 1883, one was killed not far from 

 the town of Donegal. Some years ago two were taken on a mountain 

 near Glenties. I am informed they have been occasionally seen in Glen 

 Veagh and near Lough Esk. 



Co. Down. — In this county Hillsborough Park, Tollymore Park, 

 Donard Lodge, and Belvoir Park, are mentioned by Thompson as former 

 haunts. There were some in Portavoe in 1854. In 1874 or '75 one was 

 trapped near Castlewellan, as Dr. Gray kindly informs me. This speci- 

 men measures 2 feet 7! inches over all. In 1882 one was killed at Castle 

 Ward, near Downpatrick, and a particularly fine specimen from Narrow- 

 Water Castle was received by Mr. Sheals in January, 1886. In April, 1891, 

 one was trapped at Finnabrogue, Downpatrick, and was most generously 

 mounted and presented to the Belfast Museum by Major Maxwell. In 

 October of the same year (1891), another was killed by Lord Roden's 

 keeper at Bryansford. It measured 28 inches, weighed 3J lbs., and had 

 evidently been trapped before, as one foot was gone. Two were taken 

 some years ago at Montalto, Ballynahinch. 



Co. Fermanagh. — Thompson's only locality in this county is Florence 

 Court. In former times it was frequently found in wooded demesnes 

 along the shores of Lough Brae, but now seems very rare. The last 

 Marten seen at Florence Court was killed by Lord Bnniskillen about 30 

 years ago. One was got in July, 1869, at Killaleas, Lough Erne. The 

 Earl of Erne kindly sends me the following information. " About 20 years 

 "ago, I killed a Marten Cat while cover-shooting on an island in Lough 

 " Erne, forming part of the Erne demesne. I never saw one there before 

 " or since. I recollect an old man, tenant of a farm on the island, who 

 " happened to be with me at the time, saying that they were very plenti- 

 ful when he was a boy, but that he had not seen one for at least 40 years." 

 Captain Archdale states that Martens were not at all uncommon about 

 Irvinestown 70 years ago, and that they were very destructive to wall-fruit. 

 It is 14 years since one was shot at Castle Archdale, and for 20 years 

 previously they were only occasionally seen. 



Co. Londonderry. — Thompson mentions Castledawson ; I have no 

 recent records. 



