PAST AND FUTURE OF BRITISH MAMMALS 283 



First among these is public feeling, which has recently 

 changed in regard to the preservation of wild animals, as 

 it did a few years earlier in regard to the preservation 

 of our ancient forests. This in turn aids the great 

 proprietors who, both in England and Scotland, protect 

 rare birds and beasts, and even introduce lost species 

 like the beaver. Several Highland owners now protect 

 their wild cats, or give orders that they shall not be 

 destroyed if any wander to their demesnes. The same 

 has been done by Irish proprietors in the case of the 

 marten. Neither are the surviving animals behindhand 

 in taking advantage of the chances given them. Most of 

 them have become astonishingly wary and vigilant after 

 centuries of persecution. They owe their survival to 

 this, and, when matters are made easier for them, do not 

 relax their precautions. The writer of the Edinburgh 

 article notes that ' even now very little is known of the 

 habits of our mammals in a wild state.' This is because 

 they have nearly all become intensely nocturnal, and 

 their senses are so acute that no one can watch them 

 closely. The badger's power of hearing is astonishing. 

 Tame specimens have been known to run off and hide 

 five minutes before the arrival of a stranger whose 

 footfall they heard. Foxes which are artificially pre- 

 served during part of the year become fairly tame ; but 

 even the otters, which are bold and playful animals at 

 night, are quite invisible by day. Some figures from the 



