THE MARTEN IN IRELAND. 137 



Co. Carlow.— See Kilkenny. Mr. P. W. Trim, of St. Mullins, 

 wrote, in August, 1892, that he thought the decrease in [the 

 number of Squirrels in the woods of St. Mullins was due to the 

 presence of Martens. He added, " The Marten produces about 

 six young ones in May or June, generally in old hollow trees, 

 clefts of rocks, &c." Mr. C. F. Deane Drake informs me that 

 the fishermen of the Barrow, about St. Mullins, state that the 

 Martens will enter the fishing-cots and take trout out of them. 



Co. Kilkenny. — " The woods of Woodstock are frequented by 

 the Mustela martes, Yellow-breasted, or Pine Marten, a different 

 animal from the White-breasted Marten, Mustela foina, which is 

 destructive to sheep ; the former never quits the woods, but 

 occupies the nests of scald-crows, killing their young" (Tighe's 

 'Kilkenny,' 1802, p. 570). Mr. J. H. O'Connell writes that a 

 Marten was killed by the foxhounds, but cannot give the exact 

 date. In certain of the wooded parts of Kilkenny and Carlow 

 the Marten is still plentiful, and I have received specimens 

 within the last year or so, and heard of others which were kept 

 as pets in New Ross. 



Co. Wexford. — The Marten probably occurs now only as a 

 straggler, from Kilkenny, Carlow, or Wicklow, though no doubt 

 it was regularly to be found in the wooded parts of the county 

 until a few years ago. I have the following notes from this 

 county : — Mr. Byrne, of Rosemount, New Ross, states that 

 " Marten-cats have been shot about twenty-five years ago, since 

 which time none have been seen" (' Irish Sportsman,' April 2nd, 

 J 892). Mr. John Plummer, lately steward at Kilmanock, stated 

 that about thirty years ago he saw and chased a Marten with two 

 terriers near Newtownbarry ; it took to a tree, however, and 

 finally escaped. The Marten seems to have been common enough 

 then, for Mr. Plummer stated that they could be heard in the 

 night " whistling," and that people used to watch their lambs at 

 night to save them. Mr. J. S. Deane Drake, of Stokestown, New 

 Ross, wrote (Oct. 1st, 1888): — "I trapped three Marten-cats 

 (Pine Martens) here about fifteen years ago, but have not heard of 

 any since. They were taken in a wire-trap, and showed a great 

 fight with the dogs when let out." No doubt these are the 

 "four" specimens alluded to on page 104 of the Editor's article. 

 Dr. Cookman, of Kilkea House, Enniscorthy, wrote (Aug. 28th, 

 1888) : — " I think the Marten is now totally extinct in this 



ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL. XVIII. — APRIL, 1894. M 



