326 THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



generally distributed in Ireland, and at the present 

 day in some districts is still not uncommon. In 

 former times it was much sought after for the sake 

 of its fur as, indeed, it is now in various parts of 

 the country and this, no doubt, has contributed in 

 some measure to its gradual scarcity, and ultimate 

 extinction in localities where it once abounded. Of 

 late years its chief enemies have been game pre- 

 servers and their keepers, who seldom or never lose 

 an opportunity of shooting or trapping it. Notwith- 

 standing this persecution, there are many wild dis- 

 tricts in Ireland where Martens still hold their own, 

 especially where portions of the ancient forests yet 

 remain, among which may be specified Ballykyne, 

 near Cong, co. Mayo, and Kylemore, Connemara, 

 co. Galway. 



In the neighbourhood of Killarney, more espe- 

 cially near Lough Carragh, and in other parts of 

 Kerry, they are still fairly numerous ; and they are 

 also to be found in the woods and crags near Loughs 

 Mask and Corrib, in Mayo and Galway. 



In the latter county, some twenty years ago, they 

 were considered quite a plague on the Tomgraney 

 estate, where they were preserved by the owner, an 

 Englishman, who had then recently purchased the 

 property. Amongst other localities in Ireland where 

 the Marten still exists may be mentioned the woods 

 of Desart, co. Kilkenny; the Mourne Mountains, co. 

 Down ; various parts of Leitrim, Sligo and Donegal 

 (Colonel Whyte) ; atCastlebar,co. Mayo(W. Garnett) ; 

 at Ballynahinch, co. Galway (W. Blackadder) ; and in 

 Wicklow (A. B. Brooke). In one year (1.870) Mr. 

 Glennon, the taxidermist of Dublin, received no less 



