260 Practical Game Preserving. 



appear as fierce as possible. It is by no means an insig- 

 nificant opponent for a dog, and never fails to make the 

 best use it can of its excellent sharp teeth, strong jaws, 

 and lithe body, well capable of active movement. 



That the martens, more especially the pine marten, are 

 slowly but surely dying out is perfectly evident, but they 

 are still of fairly frequent occurrence among the rocky and 

 woody districts of the kingdom ; while in Wales and Scot- 

 land they are quite common, and, indeed, in parts of the 

 last-named favourably featured country, regular means have 

 to be employed against them to stop their depredations. An 

 account of these means will be given hereafter. 



