The Annals 



of 



Scottish Natural History 



No. 58] 1906 [APRIL 



ON THE MAMMALS OF FAIR ISLE, WITH A 

 DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SUB-SPECIES OF 

 MUS SYLVATICUS. 



By NORMAN B. KINNEAR. 



As mentioned by Mr. Eagle Clarke in the January number 

 of the " Annals," we brought back from Fair Isle a small 

 series of mammals consisting of House- and Field-mice. 

 Besides these two species, the Rabbit (Lepus cuniculus) is 

 also found on the island, but we were unable to learn any- 

 thing about its introduction. Off the shore, chiefly at the 

 north end, a small number of Common Seals (P/ioca vitulina) 

 and a few Grey Seals (Halichcerus grypus} were generally to 

 be seen, but although they are not disturbed, they are not 

 very numerous. The rocky nature of the coast and the 

 absence of a proper harbour has, so far, hindered the intro- 

 duction of the Rat, Brown or Black. 



By means of traps we captured a series of mice which 

 present some points of interest, especially the Field-mice. 



HOUSE-MOUSE (Mus musculus, Linnaeus). At first we 



found the House-mouse very numerous among the crofts, 



but after the corn was cut they Lit the fields and betook 



themselves to the houses, where we were informed they 



58 B 



