176 THE FAUNA OF WOOL, NEAR WARE HAM. 



to tlie bottom, is often unnoticed ; but there is little doubt it is veiy gener- 

 ally distributed. About here, it is not frequently seen gliding along the 

 banks, which it seems to do, rather than run ; and, upon the least disturb- 

 ance, disappearing beneath the water. It is said to be quite common in the 

 neighbourhood of Dorchester. It is most difficult to capture. 



Badger. {Meles taxus.) Is now become extremely rare. I have only heard 

 of two being in this neighbourhood for some time past ; one was killed at 

 Biudon last year, and the other a few weeks back. Their haunts may be 

 easily known, as they ai'e in the habit of turning up cow-dung in search of 

 beetles and their larvae. I always considered thein both useful and harm- 

 less ; but I have been told, by a keeper, that he knew one which devoured a 

 whole nest of Pheasant's eggs, and replaced them by the unsavoury con- 

 sequence of his meal. The haunches are eaten by the peasantry. 



Common Otter. Lutra vulgaris.) Dorset is, in many parts, abundantly 

 watered by rivers and brooks, and these are well supi^lied with fish ; and, as 

 may be supposed, in a thinly peopled country, our friend is not unfrequently 

 met with. But, alas ! he never has any chance, it is always the trap which 

 catches him. How would my namesake, of " rural sports " notoriety, have 

 grieved at this. 



Common Weasel. (Mustela vulgaris.) A pest to the henwife, and is far too 

 abundant to be agreeable. They must be very prolific ; for enormous num- 

 bers are annually killed, and yet they never seem to decrease. 



Ermine Weasel, Stoat. (Mustela erminea.) Almost of as bad repute as its 

 congener, M. vulgaris; but the beautiful change it ixndergoes, when it 

 assumes its nieval robe, creates an interest which is altogether wanting to 

 our other carnivora. The white specimens are not unfrequent, and it has 

 been noticed, that they are generally females. 



Fitchet Weasel, Polecat, Foulmart. [Mustela putorius.) Now rarely to be 

 met with. I can only hear of three having been killed lately about here ; 

 the last was a female, which had evidently i-ecently had a litter of pups. 



Ferret. [Mustela furo.) Occasionally taken in vermin traps ; but sup- 

 posed to have been lost, at some time, by poachers, or rabbit catchers. 



Common Martin, Martincat. [Martes foina.) This may be pronounced 

 one of our rarest quadrupeds. One was killed about four years ago, on the 

 estate of Jos Weld, Esq., Lulworth Castle ; and another, on the estate of 

 Sir John Smith, near Dorchester. I believe the skins of both were pre- 

 served, and are now in existence. 



The Fox. [Vulpes vulgaris.) This mischievous fellow is not so frequently 

 seen or heard of about here, as there are no hounds kept in the immediate 

 neighbourhood, and the game is strictly preserved. So whenever Reynard's 

 arrival becomes known, Mr. Keeper forthwith issues a number of insidious 

 invitations, in the shape of a trap, baited with a nice young rabbit, that he 

 may become more intimately acquainted with him ; however, he is still far 

 from being rare. 



