160 THE COMMON MARTIN. 



ground, it seems to move rather by a succession of 

 short leaps, than either to walk or run. It climbs 

 the highest walls with facility ; and often enters 

 pigeon and poultry houses, where it destroys, in 

 abundance, eggs, pigeons, and fowls. It is like- 

 wise very destructive to game, and particularly to 

 pheasants, amongst which it frequently makes great 

 havoc. To compensate, in some measure, to the 

 farmer and the sportsman, for these depredations, 

 the Martin also devours Rats, Mice, Moles, and 

 other vermin of the same description. The time in 

 which it is usually occupied in search of prey, is 

 the dusk of the evening, or during the night ; and, 

 in these predatory excursions, it is often caught in 

 traps laid for the purpose, and baited with birds. 

 The Martin is said to be a great enemy to Cats ; 

 and it is asserted that it will attack even a wild Cat, 

 which, although a much stronger animal, is always 

 worsted, and often killed in the combat. 



species. The colour of the hair on the neck and breast, which in the 

 Martin is white, and in the Pine Martin yellow, is the only charac- 

 teristic that can be depended on. It is true that naturalists are 

 seldom inclined to designate species only by colour, since these are 

 frequently known to vary. In the present case, however, the dis- 

 tinction is ascertained to be a permanent one. The inhabitants of 

 all countries where the two animals are found, esteem them dif- 

 ferent, appropriate to each its peculiar name, and have in no instance 

 been mentioned as confounding them together. In the Pine Martin, 

 the fur of the upper parts of the body is more dark than that of the 

 Common Martin ; but the lustre of the latter is by much the most 

 brilliant. 



The 



