THE PINE-MARTEN 



123 



marten* and the beech-marten ; the former having a yellow mark 

 on the breast, and the latter a white one. I do not, however, 

 believe that they are of a distinct species, but consider the variety 

 of shade in the colour of the breast to be occasioned by difference 

 of age, or to be merely accidental — having frequently killed 

 them in the same woods with every intermediate shade, from 

 yellow to white, on their breasts ; the animals being perfectly 

 alike in every other particular. The oldest-looking martens 

 had generally a whiter mark than the others, but this rule did 

 not apply to all. 



' The pine-marten is still not uncommon in the wilder districts of Scotland, as in the 

 Sutherland and Ross-shire deer forests, and also in the North of England, where it is 

 occasionally killed by fox-hounds. When pursued, it generally makes for the rocks. It 

 is very destructive to birds, lambs, and even sheep. 



The late Mr. Blyth, it may be added, told Mr. Alston that his own investigations led 

 him to agree with the latter's conclusion on the single species of marten now to be found 

 in the British Isles. 



