MARTEN. 171 



that in other parts of the country it is at all pecu- 

 liar, in any state, to either pine or beech woods ; for 

 its favourite places of abode are rough or stony 

 ground, on the slopes of valleys, overgrown with 

 briers, sloes, or bushes of any kind, although it is 

 also met with in woods. It sometimes takes up its 

 abode in ruined buildings and hollow trees ; and it 

 can ascend a wall or a tree with as much agility as 

 the Wild Cat ; but its arboreal habits are much 

 exaggerated by authors, and its chief exploits are 

 performed on the ground. In the north of Scot- 

 land, where it is named Taghan and Polecat, it has 

 oeen known to destroy very young lambs, but 

 scarcely ever ventures into the vicinity of human 

 habitations at night, as it is said sometimes to do 

 in England, where farm-yards have been plundered 

 by it. Whatever may be the case on the Continent, 

 it cannot with truth be said that in Britain the 

 Marten resides chiefly in trees, however admirably 

 its structure may be supposed to be adapted to this 

 mode of life. Both it and the Polecat, however, as 

 well as the Weasels, are on occasion climbers, and, 

 therefore, typical or aberrant representatives of the 

 Woodpeckers and Creepers ! 



This species is one of the most graceful, agile, 

 and lively of our native quadrupeds. It is said to 

 run with great speed, sometimes to perform marvel- 

 lous leaps, and to be very destructive to feathered 

 game of all sorts ; but, owing to the multiplication 

 of game-keepers, it has become very scarce in most 

 parts of the country, so that we now hear little of 



