h'ish Manwtals. 71 



existence of this animal in historic times. Although the 

 absence of pig-bones in the older Irish deposits has caused 

 some doubt to be expressed as to whether this animal was 

 trul}^ indigenous to Ireland,' there is no doubt that herds of 

 pigs, either truly wild or feral, infested the woods and forests 

 of Ireland in historic times. 



As to the Fox (pp. 98-104) Mr. Lydekker seems to have no 

 more recent authorit}^ to quote than Thompson, and this is 

 also the case with regard to the Badger and Otter, which 

 animals all survive from north to south of Ireland, and in 

 many parts of the country are plentiful. A reference to our 

 packs of Foxhounds would not, we think, have been out of 

 place, nor would a reference to the weight of this animal, an 

 interesting note on which was published last 3'ear. 



On the distribution of the Marten Mr. I^ydekker has quoted 

 the latest paper on the subject, but has again omitted to give 

 the reference.^ Since that article was written we have 

 obtained records of the occurrence of the marten in Roscom- 

 mon, -* in Dublin in 1877,5 and from several other counties 

 from which it had been already recorded. Interesting notes 

 on Martens robbing bee-hives of the honey will be found in 

 the Field.' 



That the Polecat ever existed in Ireland will be news to 

 many Irish naturalists, and we should like to know on what 

 authority Mr. Lydekker makes the statement (p. 114) that 

 " although Thompson had doubts of its occurrence, there 

 appears good evidence that the Polecat, in his time at least, 

 was an inhabitant of the woods of Kerry, Down, and other 

 parts of Ireland." 



"The Stoat," says Mr. Lydekker (page 1 19), "does not, accord- 

 ing to Thompson, undergo a personal colour-change" in 

 Ireland. Occasionally, however, Stoats undergo a partial 

 change iu Ireland in the winter, and Mr. Kinahan' records 

 examples from Dublin, Galway, Clare, and Mayo. Mr. More's 

 experience is not in accordance with this, and after many years 



1 V. Ball, in Sci. Trans. Royal Ditblin Soc. (2), vol iii., No. x , p. 339. 



'- Fidd, March roth, 1894. =• Zoologist, April, 1894. 



* Field, April, 4, 1874. '^ Britisli Assoc. Guide to Dublin y part ii., p. 90. 



6 Feb. 10, 1877, May 17, 1873, and April 4, 1871. 



7 Land and Water, June 11, 1892, 



