MARTENS, POLECATS, WEASELS, STOATS 181 



England for some years. I venture to doubt this 

 statement for very good reasons. It is wonderful 

 what the coin commonly called a * sov ' will bring to 

 light at times in the rough broken ground of the 

 border counties genuine British creatures too, not 

 caged ones imported and then let loose and killed. 



His nimbleness and size and strength make him 

 a sad foe to game of all kinds ; to hares the common 

 and the mountain hare rabbits, and even to lambs, 

 the shepherds will tell you. They always put their 

 swift-footed collies on his track whenever they see 

 him. Capercailzie, black grouse, red grouse, and any 

 other bird that comes in his way, are included in his 

 bill of fare. In Scotland he holds his own in spite of 

 persecution which he undergoes from the keepers of 

 the forests right down to the herd laddie. He has a 

 violent affection for the capercailzie or cock of the 

 woods. Running out of his hiding-place under some 

 shattered fragments of rock scattered about, his 

 rounded ears listen most attentively. It is the call or 

 play of the cock of the woods, performed for the 

 exclusive pleasure of his female admirers, that the 

 marten hears. It must come from some spot in the 

 pine forest close at hand. Very quietly going to 

 work, he leaves the ground when he gets nearer to the 

 tree which the sound comes from, and, climbing the 



