THE LAND MAMMALS OF THE MORAY FIRTH AREA 139 



might be said of " Moray " to-day. An expert in mammals 

 recently examined a Wild Cat's skin and remarked that he 

 " could not distinguish it from Fells catus." I think there 

 was a little caution in that remark. 



The MARTEN (Mustela martes) is now a very rare animal. 

 It is still found in Ross-shire and Inverness-shire at long 

 intervals. In Elginshire I know of no record of it for more than 

 thirty years ; but it would be rash to say that it is extinct here, 

 as one or two have been captured in Aberdeenshire within 

 the past few years. The POLECAT (Mustela putorius) is as 

 rare now as the Marten in many districts. I have asked 

 gamekeepers about it, and few of them have killed one for 

 over twenty years. The STOAT (Mustela ermina] is still plenti- 

 ful. Many gamekeepers kill twelve or more during the year. 

 In some places they are as common as Weasels. They vary 

 a little in the colour of their summer coat. Sometimes the 

 line of demarkation between the brown and white is not 

 a straight one, but I have seen none here yet with brown 

 spots through the white, as in many specimens of the Irish 

 " species." The WEASEL (Mustela vulgaris] is plentiful 

 everywhere. I find it, too, varies in colour. Some are dark 

 brown, and old ones are occasionally light yellowish red. I 

 have seen one or two males with the line of demarkation 

 between brown and white straight and distinct, as is usual in 

 the Stoat. The males are sometimes of great size, the head 

 and body measuring as much as ten inches. 



The BADGER (Melcs taxus] is now unknown in many 

 localities. In my own district it was believed to be extinct 

 twenty years ago, but a fine male was killed within i^ mile 

 of Lhanbryde about ten years since. Some people believe 

 that one or more still live in woods between Elgin and 

 Fochabers. 



The Fox (Cants vulpes] still survives. During last year 

 two or more were seen in Elginshire and Nairnshire within 

 two or three miles of the sea. 



RODENTIA. 



The SQUIRREL (Sciurus vulgaris) is plentiful throughout 

 the wooded districts. It varies in colour here as in other 



