13 



14. Mustela putorius, Linnaeus. 



Polecat. 



Scot, Foumart (also Old and local English). 



Gael, Fochlan (from Gael., fochal, dirt?). 



Now rare or extinct in many of the southern counties, and 

 locally rather than generally distributed in the Highlands. It is 

 not found in any of the Islands. 



15. Meles taxus (Schreber). 



Badger. 



Scot, Brock (from the Gaelic? or from Scot., broakit; Danish, 

 broged, spotted, striped. Also Old and local English 1) 

 Gael, Brochd (from Gael., broc, mottled grey])- 

 The Badger, now, like the Polecat, a very scarce animal in the 

 south, has been recorded of late years from Lanarkshire (Alston, 

 Fauna W. Scotl, p. vi.) and Kirkcudbright (i?. Service, Zoologist, 

 1878, p. 427), and Mr. Harvie-Brown informs me that it appears 

 not to be very rare near Yetholm. It is still far from uncommon 

 in suitable localities in the Highlands, but is unknown in the 

 Islands. 



16. Lutra vulgaris, Erxleben. 

 Otter. 



Shetl, Tyke. 



Gael, Dobhran, Dorchie (from dobhar, water?); Beast-dhu, 

 Madadh-donn (lit, brown hound); Balgar in the Hebrides (which 

 is properly the fox). 



Although reduced in numbers by persecution, the Otter is uni- 

 versally distributed along river-courses and around lakes, and on 

 the northern and western shores it is found wherever a rocky 

 coast provides it with a suitable dwelling-place. It is also a native 

 of all the principal Scottish Islands. 



Family: PHOCIDAE. 



17. Phoca vitulina, Linnaeus. 

 Common Seal. 



Scot., Selch, Selcht, Selchie (Old German, Seluch). 



Gael, Bon. 



Found round the coasts in all localities where it is comparatively 

 free from intrusion, especially on the north and west shores, and 

 amono- the Islands. 



