The Sporting Dictionary and Rural Repository, Volume 2 (of 2) / Of General Information upon Every Subject Appertaining to the Sports of the Field

by William Taplin

MARTIN, or MARTERN

,—is an animal inhabiting woods and bushy coverts, rather inferior in size to a domestic cat, but longer in the neck and body, having a head and tail corresponding in make and shape with the FOX, but not so sharp-pointed in the ears. They are nearly as expert in climbing trees, and leaping from one to another, as a squirrel; they breed in the hollows of trees, and produce four, five, and even six, young at a time. They live upon poultry, game, and birds: most probably the casual food of the FOX is taken by the MARTIN also. As, by their great agility in climbing, they become a most destructive enemy to PHEASANTS, so by their SCENT they are frequently the subject of much mortifying disappointment to a field of expectant sportsmen. When found amidst the bushes, the general burst of the finding hounds is as great as when a FOX is unkenneled, and so continues, till, being closely pressed, some friendly tree (probably clothed with ivy) suddenly terminates the deceptive chase.