98 



THE NATURALIST. 



Its incarceration seemed peculiarly irksome to it at first, as it bounded about 

 its cage exhibiting a vast amount of impotent rage, but by degrees it calmed 

 down and at length, remained quiescently coiled up in a corner of its prison, 

 its head completely hidden from view, either in the ample vesture of its own 

 beautiful fur, or amongst the soft hay which composed its bed ; but when 

 aroused by even a gentle touch with a stick, it was instantly on the qui vive, 

 and j)laced itself in such an attitude of self-defence as the nature of the dis- 

 turbance seemed to it to require; deftly and determinedly pourtraying all that 

 innate aptitude for pugnacity, for which the species stands pre-eminent. Not- 

 withstanding that every care was taken of him, he sickened and died on 

 the third day of his captivity. 



The second capture was made in Dilston Park wood, on the river Tyne, 

 about twelve years ago by George Marsh, a woodman, on the Greenwich 

 Hospital estate, of which Dilston Park forms a part. Prom Marsh's 

 testimony, it appears he came upon the slot of the Martin during winter in 

 the snow, and although well versed in woodcraft, he was quite at a loss to 

 know by what animal the slot in question had been made, and being deter- 

 mined to ascertain the fact, he followed the trace of the animal throughout 

 all its intricate windings into a tluck undergrowth of gorse where it had 

 taken refuge, Prom this retreat Marsh speedily expelled the mysterious 

 fugitive, when, to his astonishment, it ran u^) the perpendicular trunk of an 

 adjacent tree and was quickly lost to sight amongst the thick matted 

 branches overhead. Here however it found but a temporary asylum for it 

 was discovered and ultimately shot by its relentless pursuer. It is now in 

 the possession of Mr. Baty, Post-master of Hexham. Since this adventure 

 and capture, Marsh, whose occupation requires him to be often in the woods, 

 lias frequently observed their footprints in the snow, and on one occasion, as 

 the local votaries of the chase were having their accustomed run after 

 Eeynardjhe witnessed some of the outside hounds at fault on the illegitimate 

 scent of a pine Martin, and apprising the huntsman of the fact, this worthy 

 disciple of Nimrod uttered a loud anathema not intended for " ears politej^ 

 against all Martins in the neighbourhood ; evincing a knowledge that such 

 an interruption was not of unfrequent occurrence during the excitement of 

 the chase. The dense woods about Dilston and the coverts lying contiguous 

 are the only places in ISTorthumberland where the Martin is at present per- 

 manently resident ; but, even here, abundantly favoured as it is by nature 

 for their habitat, and notwithstanding the testimony of one or two persons 

 re.siding in the locality, who reiterate their belief that they are still compa- 



