THE BEECH MARTIN. 297 



to a magpie's nest in Tollymore Park." This is a 

 favourite abode of this animal, because its arched 

 covering and small entrance affords great security. 

 The fur of the pine marten is very valuable, especially 

 if the animal be killed in the winter : a gamekeeper of 

 mine shot and trapped two at this season. I had the 

 furs dressed at a furrier's, and they made a handsome 

 trimming to a cloth pelisse belonging to my lady. It is 

 esteemed little inferior to the sable. A gamekeeper 

 can generally get half a guinea for the skin if it is 

 trapped during the winter. It is thought not to be so 

 prolific an animal as the beech marten, seldom produc- 

 ing above three or four at a birth. 



The beech marten may be distinguished from the 

 pine marten l>y the white tint of the fur on its throat 

 and upper portion of its breast. A slight yellow tinge 

 is sometimes observed on its throat. This animal is 

 also known by the name of stone marten ; in Grermany, 

 stein marten. In its destructive habits and thirst for 

 blood it resembles the animal just described, and has 

 earned for itself the title of domestic, which was 

 applied to it by G-esner, as it frequents the vicinity of 

 houses, and conceals itself in the barns and outhouses 

 for the purpose of gaining access to the poultry. The 

 marten, when taken young, may be made tame ; so much 



so, that Lady 's coachman had one so thoroughly 



domesticated that it sat with him on the box of the 

 carriage. One of these was procured when young by a 

 shoemaker, and remained with him until it reached 

 maturity. It then escaped from its adopted home, and 

 commenced a series of depredations among the fowls 

 kept by the neighbours, returning every night and con- 



