In Vyner’s “Notitia Venatica” is an illustration of foxhounds finding a “marten cat.” One of the hunters is shown up a tree holding some burning straw or other material on the end of a long stick. The pine-marten is represented jumping out of the tree into one adjoining. This marten’s brush is apparently tipped with white, surely a mistake on the part of the artist who drew the picture, as I have never seen or heard of a “mart” with such a white tag to its caudal appendage.
It is a great pity there are not more martens in the country. In addition to being beautiful and interesting creatures, they are the deadly foe of squirrels, which do much harm to trees in young plantations.
The hunting man who is interested in photography will find endless opportunities when out with the fell packs of recording incidents of the chase. It is needless to say that a small light-weight camera should be selected, anything larger than quarter-plate being too much of a handicap on steep ground.
To a lover of sport in wild country, foxhunting in the Lake District must make a strong appeal. In fine or stormy weather the fells have a peculiar charm of their own, and if we add to the beauties of Nature the mellow notes of the horn and the cry of hounds echoing amongst the crags, we can say in the words of the old Roman author—
“And from without the mountain girth,
Whene’er his wandering steps draw near,
The stranger, from whatever earth,
Desires the country of his birth
No more, but yearns to sojourn here.”