GIBB : MUSTELIDiE OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 



99 



ratively numerous, I believe them to be very rare. Were such not the case, 

 stray individuals would be more frequently seen in other parts of the county 

 and we should certainly have to record more captures in the vicinity in 

 question. The third and last authenticated capture is of a very recent date, 

 so lately as the 6th of May of the present year. This specimen was trapped 

 in a locality far removed from those wooded fastnesses in which the pine 

 Martin is usually found — in the centre of a large tract of moorland, within 

 seven miles of Alnwick, partially covered with gorse and furze. 



The singularity of a Martin having been taken in a situation so foreign 

 to its habits and pursuits, and so much at variance with my own former 

 knowledge of the animal, took me not a little by surprise j but the day 

 after its capture it was sent to me, and on carefully examining it, I found 

 the right fore leg amputated by the elbow joint ; this at once solved the 

 mystery, for doubtless the animal had been necessitated to leave its genial 

 woods from its incapacity for climbing, to seek, by a compulsory exile, an 

 existence far apart from its kindred species. It was a very aged animal, as 

 was seen by the decayed molars and broken canines. In imagination we 

 look back a few years and fancy we see poor " Martes^^ writhing in agony in 

 the trap, when by a convulsive effort, or, by deliberately eating through alike 

 its own flesh and sinews with that stoical indifference to pain which we 

 know some of our Mustelidce possess, it regains its freedom minus a limb, 

 and days afterwards we can imagine him essaying his first attempt to reach 

 some elevated retreat; it may be the deserted nest of a magpie — a kestrel — 

 or the snug soft home of the squirrel, far up in the topmost branches of some 

 lofty monarch of the forest; and see all his efforts signally fail him — while the 

 " argus eyed" pheasant and coy ring-dove look on exultantly and mock his 

 abortive attempts, and who for aught he can do now in his noctmmal forays, 

 sit night after night securely on their accustomed perch. At length worn 

 out with futile attempts to eke out an existence in his native woods — woods 

 perchance casting their shadow " far o'er the borders," he becomes a solitary 

 wanderer and visiting this rabbit burrow, and then the other, the wary 

 occupants of wliich furnish him with occasional meals — he reaches, and it 

 may be inadvertently, the bleak heath clad moors of l!^'orthumberland where 

 he is again beset with dangers, and while plying his subtle energies in the 

 capture of Lepus timidus is again taken in the " treacherous trap," this 

 time however with a fatal result ; for he is caught by the remaining fore-leg, 

 which incapacitates him for again making his escape. The length of this 

 individual is two feet four inches, including the tail which is nine inches 



