F. Pitt 



103 



and from the Mediterranean north to Scandinavia, with practically no 

 variation, Miller describing but one doubtful subspecies from Spain, the 

 distinguishing character of which being its more golden under-fur. In 

 Britain the polecat is now rare, and is practically confined to central 

 Wales. Any specimens found outside that area should be viewed with 

 the gravest suspicion, generally proving to be merely escaped ferrets of 

 a dark colour. The species still exists in some numbers in Cardiganshire, 

 but how long it will be able to hold its own in the face of steady perse- 

 cution is another matter. 



Measurements of Polecats and Ferrets. 



Number of Specimen Sex H. and B. 



Typical dark form of the Polecat : 



XVIII coll. F. P. 

 LIII 

 ♦Coll. Brit. Mus. N. H. 



350 mm. 

 455 mm. 

 403 mm. 

 415 mm. 

 360 mm. 



Tl. 



127 mm. 

 165 mm. 

 1(53 mm. 

 190 mm. 

 140 mm. 



Ear 



20 mm. 

 25 mm. 

 27 mm. 

 30 mm. 

 23 mm. 



H. F. 



Remarks 



56 mm. Cardiganshire 

 65 mm. ,, 



61 mm. ,, 



62 mm. ,, 

 53 mm. ,, 



Erythristic variety of the Polecat : 



LIV coll. F. P. ... ^ 450 mm. 150 mm. 21 mm. 58 mm. 



(the above measurements are not absolutely reliable, being taken 

 from a specimen that had been set up) 



Albino Ferret : 



The Roman numerals refer to the numbers of specimens in my collection, and the 

 Arabic to the reference figures used in my experiments. 



All the measurements given above were taken after death, it being found impossible to 

 measure a live animal satisfactorily, for which reason many of those bred were never 

 measured at all. 



* From Miller's Catalogue of the Mammals of Western Europe, 



