54 THE MARTIN. 



trees, and spring from one to another, like a squirrel. I 

 once, with two or three companions, had a curious hunt 

 of this kind. The martin had been driven by a very 

 swift terrier into a clump of pines, which it so nearly 

 resembled in colour, that we had great difficulty to keep 

 sight of it. At last we thought of cutting off its retreat 

 by climbing all the adjacent trees : the creature showed 

 great coolness when thus driven to extremities, awaiting 

 the approach of its enemy, perched on the pinnacle of 

 the tallest pine ; and it was only when one of our party 

 got quite close, that it sprang from the top to the bottom 

 of the tree, rebounding nearly a yard from the hard turf, 

 just where I was standing, and, not a whit disconcerted, 

 darted off at full speed, gained a precipice, and made good 

 its escape. 



Unless hard pressed, however, the martin is more apt 

 to go to earth, or take shelter in the clefts of the rocks, 

 than upon trees. When run to ground by a fox-hound, 

 there is no creature more easily smoked out ; it will bolt 

 almost immediately, and numbers are killed in this man- 

 ner, although, from the quickness and uncertainty of its 

 exit, it is any thing but an easy shot. 



When in quest of prey, it is daring as well as mis- 

 chievous; not so apt to leave its secure haunts in the 

 day-time, but under cover of darkness will travel many 

 miles, committing great devastation in preserves; and, 

 unless trapped or shot, will return night after night to 

 the poultry-yard, killing many more fowls than it de- 



