78 



Eri'IiXG FOREST. 



The Marten, which is closely aUied to, but larger than, 

 the last-named animal, is very rare, but is believed still 

 to exist in the Forest. It frequents woods and lies 

 in the hollows of old stems. Extremely agile in its 

 movements, it traverses branches and leaps from bough 

 to bough like the squirrel. "The last killed in Essex 

 was trapped by Mr. Luffman, at that time keeper to 

 Mr. Maitland, in April 1853, in one of the Loughton 

 covers. I observed a living specimen near Ambresbury 

 Banks on 29th July 1883."— J. S. E. The Rev. W. B, 

 Daniel, in Rural Sports, published in 1801, says of this 

 animal — " Some years since one used to run tame 

 about the kitchen of the ' Bald Faced Stag ' on Epping 

 Forest." 



The Stoat is the next in size to the polecat of the weasel 

 family, and is of as sanguinary a disposition. Being the 

 near relative of the arctic ermine it frequently turns 

 partially white in winter. A pure white specimen has 

 been killed in the Forest. 



The Weasel, the smallest of his tribe, has all the ferocity and 

 courage of his bigger brethren, and being even more 

 active in proportion to his size, works havoc among the 

 lesser birds and animals. I constantly see liis tiny rope- 

 like body arched like a bridge, as he races across my 

 lawn, intent upon his bloodthirsty work. 



Squirrel. Owing to the persecution which this popular 

 favourite has suffered, and the ease with which it is 

 hunted to death when the trees have been recently pel- 



