46 T. T. EGBERTS TEEEESTEIAL 



the seals in the Zoological Gardens, being a sort of undulating 

 motion with a constant raising of the head to look around. Like 

 all the Mustelidoe, otters vary much in size. Some frequent the 

 sea-coast, particularly in parts of Scotland and Ireland, living in 

 caves, and these are often so large that they have been thought by 

 some to form a distinct species. This does not, however, seem to 

 be the case. Size in animals depends very much on food and 

 environment. 



The marten, polecat, stoat, and weasel form a group of the 

 Carnivora having a strong family likeness. Like the rest of the 

 order they are chieiiy nocturnal in their habits, and are not often 

 seen by the casual observer. Now and again one notices a stoat or 

 weasel running across a road or playing about a heap of stones, but 

 not very often. Most of the stoats I have myself seen have been 

 on the banks of rivers, hunting among the roots of trees or among 

 stones, and more than once 1 have seen one swimming across a 

 broad stream. 



The Marten {Martes foina) is the largest and perhaps the most 

 interesting of the group. This beautiful animal is about 27 inches 

 long, including the tail, and is of a brownish colour with a white 

 throat. According to some naturalists there are two species, the 

 common or stone-marten, and the pine-marten [Martes alietum). 

 This distinction is denied by others, who maintain that both varie- 

 ties (if varieties they be) belong to the same species. The marten 

 is remarkable for its agility, climbing trees like a squirrel, and is a 

 most determined antagonist when attacked by man or dog. It is 

 very destructive to game, and being very easily trapped has become 

 extremely rare. It is found in the North of England, Scotland, 

 Wales, and Ireland. It is said not to be quite extinct even in the 

 South of England. The author of ' On Surrey Hills ' says he has 

 good reason to believe that it could be found in a district in that 

 county which he very wisely does not indicate too clearly. There 

 is no doubt that the marten is much more given to ranging than 

 its congener the wild cat. One was shot in this county in 1872 

 within twenty miles of London, as reported in the ' Zoologist ' for 

 1879. In Wales, Mr. Dumville Lees, a sportsman and naturalist 

 whose property lies in Shropshire, on the Welsh border, tells me 

 it is chiefly found in the district extending from Dolgelly north- 

 wards by Barmouth and Pensarn, and particularly on Lord Harlech's 

 property near the latter locality. 



The Polecat [Mustela jndorius), the next in size, is, like the 

 marten, very easily trapped, and, being also very destructive, meets 

 with no mercy in game-preserving localities. In all such places it 

 is practically extinct. A year or two ago I saw six dead ones in 

 the shop of a fishmonger at Dolgelly. He told me that he had 

 collected tlie skins for thirty years, and that 60 were brought 

 to him in the first year, the number decreasing every year. They 

 were caught, he said, in the traps set for rabbits. The animal is 

 found more commonly, I believe, than is generally supposed, in 

 places near the sea-shore, and in other localities where there 



