1920. RuTTLEDGE. — Pifie Mavteyi in Ireland. 127 



Martens still exist there, but my informant states that he 

 fears they are not holding their own. 



Co. WiCKLow. — The only evidence I have of its occur- 

 rence in this county is the fact that one was taken near 

 Powerscourt " years ago," and this record should hardly be 

 included. According to Mr. Harting the Marten was 

 apparently still holding its own in this county in 1892. 



Co. Cork. — One of the gamekeepers at Mitchelstown 

 Castle informs me that he caught a Marten in 1915. He 

 knows of no other record in the county. He adds that it is 

 fairly plentiful in Co. Waterford. 



Co. Mayo. — I have not received a report of their occur- 

 rence in Mayo for many years, or of their capture, though 

 they are said to exist still in Ballykyne Woods, ^ but I have 

 no proof of the fact, none of the gamekeepers there having 

 met with them. 



The following are localities where I beHeve the Pine 

 Marten exists ; though I am by no means certain, evidence 

 being very scanty. Around Kylemore Castle, Co. Galway, 

 there are extensive woods, ideal places for Pine Martens. 

 Also the western border of Lough Mask, where there are 

 woods which they are supposed to inhabit ; and the same" 

 remark applies to Lough Corrib, in Galway. 



It seems, therefore, that at present the Pine Marten is, 

 one might venture to say, plentiful in several of the southern 

 counties ; Waterford, from all accounts, appearing to con- 

 tain most, while Kerry, if not having quite as many, appears 

 to be not far behind Waterford. From various remarks 

 made I gather that it is fairly locally plentiful in the West 

 of Ireland. Most probably it is nowhere on the increase, 

 except perhaps on the Rive Nore, in Co. Kilkenny ; in fact, 

 in most districts I think the reverse is probably the case. I 

 think, however, one might safely say that the Pine Marten 

 is far more numerous in this country than is generally 

 supposed. 



Bloomfield, Hollymount, Co. Mayo. 



^ C/. Millais, " Mammals of Great Britain and Ireland," igoo. 



