NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM. 125 
proved that the colour of the breast is dependent on age and 
season, and is not a specific character. The Rey. L. Jenyns* 
considers, however, that certain differences in their crania divide 
the marten into two species. 
Both forms or species are doubtless met with here, and 
although the animal cannot be called common, it is widely 
distributed over both counties. 
Wallis says of it, ‘‘the marten is one of our mountain and 
wood inhabitants, near houses; it lives on birds, mice, and other 
small animals. The late humane and lamented Edward Char- 
leton, Esq. of Reedsmouth had a young one taken in that 
neighbourhood, which, by kind treatment, grew as tame and 
familiar as his other house animals and continued with him two 
years, brisk and lively.” 
Localities :—Northumberland—Slaley, near Hexham (1858), 
Edward Backhouse; Unthank, Rev. J. F. Bigge, 
Durham.—St. John’s, Weardale. “I have two specimens of 
the Pine Marten killed here a few years ago;” William Back- 
house. 
5. LUTRA, Ray 
1. L. vuueanis, Eraleb. Orter. 
Mustela Lutra, Linn. 
Our district at the present day may, we think, very properly 
be designated as the head quarters of this fine animal. It is 
abundant in all the rivers and larger streams, and even the 
smaller burns can often testify to its predatory visits. Increasing 
population, combined with bitter enmity to this terrible foe 
of the finny tribe, has almost exterminated the otter in many 
parts of the country where it was formerly abundant, and caused 
it to retire to wilder, more remote, and less frequented districts. 
In haunts like these, and especially in North Northumberland, 
the otter exists in, comparatively speaking, undisturbed security, 
and long may it continue to do so. 
Perhaps we might say that the otter is, in some measure, pre- 
served for the exciting sport of ‘otter hunting,” which in this 
district still maintains its ground as a popular sport. Several 
* Ann. Nat. Hist. VII., 262, 
