268 



SHORT COMMUNICATIONS. 



. Mamma'lia. — The Weasel (Mustela vulgaris L.) traces its 

 Prey by the Faculty of Scent, (Vol. V. p. 721.) — Sir, In cor- 

 roboration of the remark by Zoophilus, in Vol. V. p. 721., that 

 " the stoat and its congeners trace their prey by the faculty of 

 scent," I would relate, that, several years ago, I had an ex- 

 cellent opportunity of witnessing the exercise of this faculty in a 

 weasel, while standing on a ladder on the outside of a garden 

 wall. About twenty yards from the wall there was a thick 

 yew hedge: the ground betwixt it and where I stood was 

 occupied with asparagus, just beginning to cover the ground, 

 and quite free from weeds. I observed a mouse coming from 

 the hedge, in a peculiarly hurried manner; and, from my 

 elevated situation, on the top of the ladder, I had an excellent 

 opportunity of watching it through the various doublings 

 which it made among the asparagus beds : it appeared to be 

 in search of n hole to escape into, and disappeared, at last, 

 amongst some bushes at the end of the wall. At about the 

 same instant, a weasel made its appearance from the same spot 

 in the hedge from which the mouse had started, and followed 

 all the various windings it had taken, exactly in the manner 

 of a dog " on scent," and disappeared at the same spot. I 

 am, Sir, yours, &c. — Thomas Blair. Stamford Hill, Jan. 4. 

 , 1833. 



For a consideration in philology appertaining to the wea- 

 sel, see p. 175. 202.; and for notices on its habits see p. 195., 

 and the pages referred to in p. 208. — J. D. 



The Hare of Ireland distinct in Species from the Hare of 

 England. — At the meeting of the Linnaean Society, held 

 March 5., Lord Stanley, the president, sent for exhibition a 

 specimen of the hare of Ireland, which, by comparison with 

 an English hare, also placed on the table, appeared to be 

 very different, although hitherto unnoticed by zoologists as 

 distinct. The ears, by measure, are full an inch shorter than 

 those of the common hare, and the markings and general 

 colour, as well as the quality of the fur, are decidedly dif- 

 ferent. — R. D. 



Birds. — Method of rearing the Species of the Genus Sylvia, 

 or Family of Warblers. — Sir, Mr. Sweet's little publication 

 (British. Warblers, noticed Vol. I. p. 57-, Vol. II. p. 50.) on this 



