108 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



Dumbartonshire, was going his round in the Murroch Glen, he 

 found, caught by the leg in one of his vermin traps, a very fine 

 female Badger. The specimen captured yesterday weighs 2 1 Ibs., 

 and its length is 35 inches. Mr. Wright, it may be stated, had 

 some days previously noticed in the glen footmarks which he 

 thought to be those of a fox, and for which the trap was set. 

 When captured, the Badger was living, but had to be destroyed. 

 J. PATERSON and HUGH BOYD WATT, Glasgow. 



Stoats in the Winter Pelage. Has any one ever formulated 

 a reasonable theory or rule that would cover the various apparently 

 erratic changes that the fur of the Stoat (Mustela erminea) under- 

 goes ? It is very evident these changes do not depend on season. 

 It may be that the age of different individuals is the ruling factor. 

 At the very middle of the coldest winters, brown-furred individuals 

 prevail alongside those clothed in white raiment. To-day (yth March) 

 I have received a couple of Stoats clad in fur of a colour I was 

 certainly not prepared to see at this late season, and more especially 

 after such a winter rather, I should say, after such a period of 

 warm, muggy weather, distinguished by the almost entire absence 

 of winter. These Stoats were from an inland locality, at an elevation 

 of well under 200 feet above sea-level. One was as white as the 

 Ermine ever is in this country, beautifully suffused with that fine 

 tint of lemon colour which fades so soon. The other was not 

 quite so white, as the brown was starting into view, but still 

 sufficiently white to be notable at this time of year. Both were 

 females. ROBERT SERVICE, Maxwelltown, Dumfries. 



Common Dolphins in the Tay Estuary. On the nth February 

 of this year, some Broughty Ferry fishermen observed two Dolphins 

 stranded in shallow water on the north side of the Tay, near its 

 mouth between Monifieth and Buddonness. Both were captured, 

 and proved to be a female with its young one. The mother was 

 easily caught, as it was quite stranded ; but the babe, being able to 

 swim in shallower water, was, unfortunately, so much injured in 

 catching it as to be useless as a specimen. The Dolphin proved to 

 be Delphinus dclphis, was 6 feet 6 inches long, and was in milk. 

 I understand that this species is rather a rare visitor to our coasts. 

 I at once got a plaster cast made of the specimen, and we are also 

 stuffing the skin and mounting the skeleton. The cast, skilfully 

 painted, will be a better representation of the Dolphin than the 

 stuffed skin. JOHN MACLAUCHLAN, Free Museum, Dundee. 



[The authentic occurrences of this species in Scottish seas are 

 few in number, though it is not uncommon on the southern shores 

 of England. It has, however, occurred on our coasts as follows : 

 Firth of Forth (twice), Moray Firth (several), Shetland (once), off 

 Mull (once), and is possibly not so rare in its visits as it is supposed 

 to be. EDS.] 



