The Polecat 



litters annually, and there are usually ^ve or six young 

 to the litter. In general appearance the Pine Marten 

 is of a deep brown colour, with a dark buff throat and 

 white chest. It is larger than either the Polecat or 

 Stoat, but, unlike these, it has no offensive odour. It 

 resembles them, however, in form, having a longish 

 and extremely supple body, with short limbs and 

 rounded feet. The ears are also rounded and well 

 furred on both sides, while the tail is flowing and 

 bushy. Male and female are very similar in outline, 

 and both are of a like bloodthirsty nature. 



Pine Martens are spoken of occasionally as being 

 denizens of the English woodlands, especially where 

 there are extensive tracts of heavy timber, but this is 

 open to serious question. The remote and less 

 frequented regions of Scotland may be marked down 

 as the only districts now inhabited by this animal, and, 

 indeed, in North Britain it is extremely rare, as already 

 noted. 



To-day the Polecat is a rarity in Britain. It used to 

 be found in the rugged and wilder parts of Scotland, 

 where it was known as the Foumart. About the 

 years 1 850-70, it seems to have been noted occasionally, 

 but since the latter date Polecats have been, in a sense, 

 erased from the British fauna. While saying so, it 

 must be recognized that a stray specimen turns up 

 occasionally, as, for instance, one I knew of personally 

 that was trapped during its visits to a ferret-hutch 



B.L.M. 33 5 



