ZOOLOGICAL NOTES 117 



Pine Marten in the Highlands. In January 1903 1 saw a 

 magnificent male Marten (Mustela martes) in Mr. Small's possession, 

 which he told me came from the neighbourhood of Lairg, East 

 Sutherland. He received it on the 6th December 1902. I do 

 not know the ultimate resting-place of this unusually fine specimen. 



On 8th March 1903 I received a good female from Assynt, 

 West Sutherland, trapped at Little Assynt on the 6th March, and 

 the following day a male was captured at the same place. In 

 Assynt one keeper trapped one in 1881, two in 1882, three in 

 1883, then one in 1886, and none since. On adjoining ground, 

 however, one was obtained about three years ago say, 1900 or the 

 winter of 1899-1900. In Coygeach five Martens were procured in 

 the winter of 1901-02. Previous to that there had not been one 

 trapped for fifteen years, and the same trapper had got the last one 

 the year before that. J. A. HARVIE-BROWN. 



Polecats in the Highlands. In Jan. 1903 I saw two Polecats 

 in Mr. Small's premises, which he told me were sent to him from 

 near Lairg, East Sutherland. They were both males, and he 

 received the first on the 4th December 1902, and the second on 

 the 1 6th December 1902. 



Mr. Small also received a third Polecat, also a male, from Loch 

 Inver, on the loth January 1903, which has been purchased by the 

 authorities of the Edinburgh Museum of Science and Art, and has 

 been added to the National Collection. From West Sutherland 

 I have received a male Polecat which had been trapped upon croft- 

 ing land at Inchnadamph. I had previously obtained a female, by 

 purchase, which had been trapped by the gamekeeper on Auch- 

 more, about two miles west of Inchnadamph. The male was 

 obtained on the i4th October, and the female about a year 

 before. I may add that between 1880 and 1889 (inclusive) 

 seven had been obtained in all at Inchnadamph, Assynt, and 

 between 1890 and 1899 (inclusive) eighteen were procured. 

 J. A. HARVIE-BROWN. 



Cream-eoloured Otter in Islay. On the yth of March this year 

 there was captured at Kildalton, Islay, and sent to me for preserva- 

 tion, a cream-coloured Otter (Lutra httra). The specimen was a 

 male and weighed iyf Ibs. CHARLES KIRK, Glasgow. 



Bird Notes from North Shetland. On i6th November last I 

 saw two Red Grouse (Lagopus scoticus) on the West Hills, Unst. 



On November 23rd an Arctic Skua (Stercorarius crep idatus} of the 

 dark variety flew over my head as I was riding through Haroldswick. 

 Several others were reported to me from different parts of Shetland 

 about the same time, and up till 6th December. 



A few Lapwings ( Vanellus vulgaris] were seen by me and others 



