LAND MAMMALS OF THE CLYDE FAUXAL AREA. 177 



trees near the sluice. A specimen was presented to Glasgow 

 Museum by Mr. A. Veitch in 1898, but the animal was cap- 

 tured at Picketlaw, Carmunnock, so far back as 1837. One is 

 recorded from Linwood by the late Mr. M. Young, Paisley, in 

 1858, and in the Museum of that town there is a specimen 

 from High Craig llock, Craigenfeoch, dating from about 1868. 

 Since then the Polecat is lost to Qyde natural history. There 

 is a report that one was obtained in the island of Bute in 1890, 

 but, if so, it was not native. John Blain (1761-1820) says 

 definitely that it is not in Bute. 



16. M. ERMINKA, L. — Stoat. A common species, and appar- 

 ently more abundant in those derelict, half-deserted places, 

 destroyed as natural country, and yet not completely assimi- 

 lated as manufacturing and industrial centres, than in wilder 

 places. For example, the keeper at Bishop Loch, Gartcosh, 

 told me (1900) that he had killed 400 to 500 Stoats there since 

 he came. It has been long known in Bute, and Mr. John 

 Robertson saw one in that island recently, but it is not in 

 Arran or the other " Clyde " islands. 



17. M. VULGARIS, Erxl. — Weasel. Common, and in the 

 islands has the same status as the Stoat. Both species seem to 

 have been nearly exterminated in Upper Lanarkshire, with the 

 result that when, in natural course, a vole plague occurs, an 

 importation of Weasels and Stoats is desired. Some had been 

 taken for export to Australia to assist in checking the rabbit- 

 plague there {^Report on the Plague of Field-Voles in Scotland, 

 1893, pp. 29 and 35). 



18. M. TAXUs (Z.) — Badger. Some details of the occurrence 

 of tliis species may be given, as it is now so little known. 

 Remains were found by Mr. John Smith in the Ardrossan Shell- 

 mound. It is included in both Statistical Accounts in many 

 of the parish lists, sometimes with interesting remarks. For 

 instance, in Campsie, in 1795, two species were foimd — " one 

 somewhat resembling a sow, the other a dog." The references 

 in the 1845 Account make it clear that the species had then 

 become less abundant than formerly. Some Lowland haunts 

 are named as still occupied, e.g., Montfode (Ardrossan) and 

 Ardneil (West Kilbride). John Colquhoun knew it weil on the 

 hills between Luss and Arrochar and in Glenfalloch. In the 



