THE COMMON MARTEN n 



is not altogether against the farmer, who often has himself to 

 blame for the inroads into the hen-roost by not taking the pre- 

 caution to exclude the marauder. Similar remarks apply to phea- 

 sant and poultry-rearing grounds, where the fox's incursions 

 may be much checked, or altogether prevented, by care and pre- 

 caution. Thus the fox may be left to gratify its " sweet tooth " 

 by feeding on the honey of wild bees and to give hounds a merry cry, 

 with a healthy and life-giving exercise to the followers. In dis- 

 tricts where there is no fox-hunting, and even where there is, when 

 foxes are allowed to multiply unduly, it is right and proper to keep 

 the fox in check ; but it is well to remember that decrease of the 

 animal means an increase of the hare and rabbit, game-preserving 

 uncombined with fox-hunting being a greater evil than a judicious 

 preservation of foxes. 



Regarding the damage done by fox-hunters in galloping across 

 newly sown wheatfields and other crops, including the breaking 

 of fences, we can only say that no fox-hunter worth the name 

 gallops across nursery grounds, land under spade husbandry, 

 such as allotments and market gardens, over lawns and other 

 well-kept parts of the demesne, or does wanton damage in fields 

 and woodlands, for the simple reason that he, as a landlord, 

 or farmer, or both, " does as he would be done by," making no 

 gaps where none, or only dead fences, exist. Indeed most gaps 

 are made by blackberry gatherers, nutters, and other town 

 nondescripts, who, as pleasure seekers, cannot keep from cultivated 

 land and cull things they would consider as stolen if practised 

 in their own gardens. 



In sandy soils foxes excavate considerable burrows or " earths," 

 and in these, or rocky places, the young are almost always brought 

 forth, although a vixen has been known to select a hollow tree, or a 

 straw stack, and being near a farmstead the excursions to the 

 poultry yard may be disastrous, when timely notice to the hunts- 

 man is sure to bring prompt relief by removal, if possible, of the 

 litter, with recompense for damage in due course. 



The MARTEN (Martes (Mustela) sylvestris or M. foina), Fig. 9, is 

 included in the Mustelidae or Weasel family, the body being elon- 

 gated and slender, legs short, feet provided with five toes, armed 

 with sharp claws. The marten breeds in hollow trees, and pro- 

 duces from three to seven young at a birth. 



Arboreal in habits, climbing trees with great ease, the marten 

 frequents the larger ranges of woodland in preference to the open 

 country, and is an expert at catching birds, robbing nests of young 

 as well as eggs, a great enemy of squirrels, particularly their 

 young, hence a benefactor to the forester in woods, especially beech 

 and pine, but very destructive to game, both ground and winged ; 

 also visits farmyards, killing poultry, and pigeons. It, however, 

 destroys mice, moles, rats, and voles, and it is said to be fond of 



