22 VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF LAKELAND 



looked across to the rugged face of the Screes, one of the grandest 

 hills in the district. Beneath us Wastwater lay like a duck-pond, 

 the cultivated fields at the head of the lake contrasting well with 

 the dark sides of the surrounding heights. Towering above, 

 Lingmell, Great Gable, and Scawfell Pikes, seemed to watch 

 over the scene, while away to the west the waves of the Irish 

 Sea sparkled under the rays of the morning sun. Close to us 

 a pair of ravens and a buzzard, attracted by our presence, were 

 doubtless wondering who it was that had ventured to invade their 

 domain. But it would not do to linger; already the hounds 

 were out of sight, and nothing but their baying would enable 

 us to follow in their track. Another check, this time amongst 

 a quantity of loose boulders, extending for some hundreds of 

 yards in each direction. Again the terriers were set to work, 

 and again the ' Mart ' continued on his way unharmed. It was, 

 however, the beginning of the end. We were now on the sum- 

 mit of the mountain, and before us extended a grassy plateau, 

 only here and there broken by fragments of rock. The quarry 

 was evidently making for the Pillar Mountain, which stood out 

 in the distance, a notable stronghold for birds and beasts of 

 prey, and which, if once reached, would afford a certain protec- 

 tion. Bravely the little creature raced on, no longer stopping 

 to take refuge in the rocks, which it knew could not give it 

 shelter, but staking all on its swiftness of foot. On the level 

 ground, however, it had no chance, though it managed to head 

 its pursuers for about a mile after leaving the rocks. The actual 

 circumstances of its death need no description ; in fact, the hounds 

 alone were present at the critical moment.' 1 



Such was the royal sport enjoyed by the dalesmen when 

 ' Marts ' were more plentiful. 2 The hounds still hunt their old 



1 Field, 6th December 1879 ; reprinted in the Zoologist, 1891, pp. 406- 

 408. 



a It is always pleasurable to draw out a venerable sportsman on the 

 subject of his darling hobby. I once asked old Mr. Jackson of Martindale, 

 then in his eighty-sixth year, whether he had hunted 'Marts.' The face 

 of the veteran lighted up as he replied : ' We oft hunted " Sweet Marts " 

 at different places — they were very common onceover. They were paid 

 for out of church rate — " Marts," Foxes, and Ravens. I can't mind of 

 anything but Foxes and " Sweet Marts " and Foumarts of that tribe.' 



