NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 39 



similar case showed that, in order to gain the thatched roof, 

 another comadreja ascended and descended regularly by one of 

 the outside corners of the house, built of brick faced with mortar, 

 which covered both bricks and interstices smoothly over, and at 

 least twelve feet high. The tail could have been of no assistance 

 in this case, but the mortar bore the traces of the claws. 



In the woods surrounding our head station were certain hollow 

 trees where I could always depend upon finding one or more coma- 

 drejas. I should here note that, except when the female has 

 young, this species is generally found in pairs, or occasionally 

 three are met with together. Once I found five full-grown ones 

 in a nest, but notwithstanding that they all appeared to be adults, 

 I am inclined to believe they were simply a female and young- 

 ones. As a rule they make a nest in their abode, of dry grass, 

 wool, feathers, and pieces of paper and rags. Even in woods, 

 though, if the soil is sufficiently sandy and dry, they will take 

 possession of some burrow, enlarging it if necessary. The fact of 

 their never occupying any burrow but those in very dry soil, and 

 their avoidance of water, constitute one of the greatest differences 

 between this and the next species. The one is entirely arboreal 

 and terrestrial in its habits, the other terrestrial and aquatic — the 

 former I never saw swim, the latter never climb a tree. 



Lastly, the "comadreja picaso" is very frequently to be found in 

 the nests of our common green parroquet (Bolborhyncltus monachus), 

 occupying one of the chambers thereof. I formerly used to 

 thrust my hand into these nests after eggs or birds, but now take 

 care to ascertain that thev contain none but their legitimate 

 occupants. The result of one investigation was a comadreja in 

 one of the upper chambers, parroquets occupying the intermediate 

 ones, and a teal duck sitting on five eggs in the lowest. Unless 

 the extremely thorny nature of the building material had kept 

 the comadreja from extending its explorations, I fail to see how 

 these neighbours should have escaped ; it says much for their courage 

 that they should have continued to remain in immediate proximity 

 to such an inveterate enemy. At night one frequently hears the 

 parroquets leaving their nests with a terrific uproar, and it is then 

 generally attributed to a comadreja, as tiger-cats could only rarely 

 gain admittance. 



Eggs and birds of all kinds, but particularly poultry, constitute 

 the chief food of the comadreja. To these may probably be added 



