BRITISH QXrADKUPEDS. 47 



happens to be no preserving, and I am told on excellent authority 

 that it is not uncommon in the Aylesbury district. In Wales and 

 the North of England it is generally met with in those parts where 

 the fields are enclosed by walls built of large loose stones. These 

 afford a very safe retreat for the animal. Tlie polecat, like the 

 stoat and weasel, has the unpleasant faculty of producing a most 

 atrocious odour when attacked. One of its names, foumart or 

 foulmart, was meant to distinguish it in this respect from the 

 marten or sweet mart. I was much interested in a specimen shown 

 to me by Mr. Cowley, which he has had for four years, and has 

 rendered perfectly tame, although quite an adult when caught. 

 He also gave me the ' Zoologist ' for August last, which contains a 

 most interesting paper by Mr. Harting on the animal. The stuffed 

 specimen exhibited, procured for me by Dr. Brett, was killed in this 

 immediate neighbourhood about 25 years ago. 



Stoats and weasels are to be found in most localities, but 

 naturally most plentifully in wild, out-of-the-way places, where 

 game preservation does not go on. The Stoat [Mustela erminea) 

 is the larger animal. Both species vary in size, and some people 

 consider that there are two species of weasel, or at any rate 

 varieties, one very small which feeds almost entirely on field- 

 mice, and which is known in some districts as the Cain. Pro- 

 fessor Bell ridicules this idea, and says that the small specimens 

 are nothing more than exceptionally small females. The courage 

 of the Weasel {Mmtela vulgaris) is extraordinary. It has often 

 been known to attack men, sometimes in packs, when it becomes 

 a veiy grave affair, and sometimes singly ; even then it is not to 

 be despised, as the little animal is marvellously quick, and makes 

 straight for the throat. Like the otter, and many (may we 

 not say most) animals, the weasel shows great affection for its 

 young, and Mr. St. John writes that no one can tell the pain 

 he felt at allowing his dog to kill one which could have escaped 

 had it not been hampered by something it was carrying, and which 

 turned out to be its young one. He says that nothing would have 

 induced him to take its life had he guessed that the poor little 

 creature was trying to save its offspring. The colour of stoats and 

 weasels is a reddish brown above and white beneath, the tail of the 

 weasel being of the same colour as the body. This mainly dis- 

 tinguishes it fi'om the stoat, which has the end of the tail black. 

 In winter, in the north, stoats often turn white. Dr. Brett in 

 1882, and ^Mr. Campbell in 1890, record instances of white stoats 

 being found in Hertfordshire, which must be regarded as an unusual 

 occurrence. 



The Wild Cat {^Fclis catus) is a most formidable creature. It is 

 an animal that varies very much in size. The usual length appears 

 to be, body about 2 feet, tail about ten inches, but it sometimes 

 attains a much larger size. The colour is a yellowish gi'ey, with a 

 dark stripe along the back, and numerous stripes on the sides. 

 The strength, ferocity, and vitality of the wild cat have often been 

 pointed out, and are dwelt on by Mr. St. John, who occasionally, 



