having been a struggle between a sheep and some other animal. I knew there
were a few stray sheep in the forest, but knowing there were no foxes in the
island we thought this sheep must have been attacked by an eagle. I continued
my stalk. About one hundred yards from where we found the wool I came upon
a large Cheviot wedder lying dead, with its head down hill and its shoulder
jammed up against a stone which was sticking out of a bank. In passing I gave
the forequarters of the sheep (which appeared to have been dead about a fortnight)
a kick, and under its shoulder and neck lay a dead Marten. The wedder in
rushing madly down hill with the Marten at its throat had dashed itself against
the sharp stone which killed the Marten. The sheep’s throat being cut, it had not
had strength to get upon its legs, but bled to death where it lay.’
Both before and after capturing its prey the Marten is often mobbed by small
birds, which display an equal interest in the movements of the stoat and the
weasel. There is, however, no instance on record of its rolling and playing to
entice a nearer approach of its victims as has frequently been noticed with the
smaller Mustelids. Mr. W. Fleming gives an interesting note on the mobbing of
a Marten1 :
‘ On the 21 st of this month (June) I was walking through the beautiful woods
of Curraghmore, which adjoin Coolfin (Waterford), when I heard a regular uproar
by birds. It came from a spot a hundred yards or so away. Walking in the
direction as quietly as possible, I expected to see a fox carrying off a young bird.
Among the branches of some low oaks was a large party of blackbirds: one of
them, a fine cock with bright orange bill, being greatly excited,? scolding away
at the top of his voice, and with outspread wings facing a point from which he
expected trouble for himself and family; and there among the leaves, lying close
along a branch, was a Marten, crouching low as if he was going to spring. It
was a most interesting sight, and neither the Marten nor birds seemed to pay
much attention to me as I watched them. Nothing can exceed the gracefulness
and quickness of movement in the Marten. It twists and turns its lithe and
supple body in every direction, and with wonderful rapidity. One must see it in
a state of nature to appreciate what a deadly foe it must be to birds both old
and young. Having watched them for some time I went away, and on my return
both Marten and birds had disappeared. He was probably having his supper on
the old cbck, or a younger member of the family.’
The Marten is somewhat bloodthirsty, and occasionally slaughters more than it
1 Zoologist■ 1897, p. 327.