212 MUSTELAD^. 



" Field," such information from practical observers as 

 might assist us in solving this vexed question ; and we 

 have to thank several intelligent correspondents for their 

 courtesy in replying to our request.* The result of all 

 our recent investigations, then, is to confirm us decidedly 

 in the opinion that the two forms are specifically distinct ; 

 and this conviction is strongly corroborated by its being 

 held by Professor Rolleston, who, from extensive oppor- 

 tunities of comparing the animals, and from the observa- 

 tion of considerable osteological differences, comes to the 

 same conclusion. 



The practical experience of intelligent sportsmen, 

 whose opportunities of personal observation have not 

 been neglected, are always valuable, not only as regards 

 the biography of the animals, but incidentally also as to 

 the scientific phase of the subject. A letter with which 

 we have been favoured from R. T. Vyner, Esq., of 

 Wheatley, in Oxfordshire, while it affords much amusing 

 information on the habits of these and some other of 

 our native animals, throws much light upon the specific 

 distinctness of the two forms, and is confirmatory of 

 the view now taken. This gentleman concludes that 

 the Beech Marten is at present much less common than 

 the Pine, and is, indeed, now very nearly extinct in 

 England, which is accounted for by its habit of leaving 

 its summer haunts of woods and rocky places, to inhabit, 

 in the winter, farm buildings, faggot-stacks, and other 

 similar localities, and thus becoming exposed to various 

 means of destruction. The Pine Marten, on the con- 

 trary, continues to inhabit, at all seasons of the year, its 



* The gentlemen to whom we are thus indebted are R. T. Vyner, Esq., of 

 The Elms, Wheatley, Oxfordshire ; Capt. Edwards, of Tychos, Haverfordwest ; 

 W. H. Wayne, jun., Esq., of Tickwood Hall, Salop ; C. H. Biustead, Esq., of 

 Grrasniere, Westmoreland ; and our friend the Rev. E. Elton. To Prof. Rolles- 

 ton our thanks are specially due for much interesting information. 



