MAMMALS OF CHESHIRE AND NORTH WALES. 245 
INSECTIVORA (Insect EATERS.) 
Family—ZRINACEADZE. ; 
Hedgehog (Zrinaceus Europeus, Linn.) Common. 
Family—TALPIDZ. 
Mole (7Zalpa Europea, Linn.) I have seen several specimens 
of a cream-colour, with the under parts golden yellow. There 
are three specimens of this pretty variety in the Museum collec- 
tion ; two from Nerquis Hall, near Mold, and one from Saltney, 
near Chester. 
Family—SORICIDZ. 
The Shrew Mouse, or Nurserow (Sorex vulgaris, Linn.) 
Common. There is an albino in the Museum Collection, which 
was taken by Mr. Owen, at Picton, Cheshire. 
Water Shrew (Sorex fodiens, Pallas.) In Cheshire I have 
seen specimens of this fine species at Ince, Elton, and Hatch- 
mere. There is a specimen in the Museum Collection, from 
Padeswood, which was taken by Mr. E. MypDDLETON. 
CARNIVORA (FLESH-EATERS.) 
Family—MZELIDAZ. 
The Badger, or Brock (Meles taxus, Schreib.) Thirty years 
ago this fine animal was common in Delamere Forest, on the 
Manley side of which there must have been a large colony of 
them, as traces of their burrows still remain, and the place is 
called ‘‘ Boger J}onk” (Badger Bank) by the natives to this 
day. About the year 1885 a very old specimen was taken in 
the above locality by some poachers. 
At Broxton (Badger Town) a few still remain; their burrows 
in this locality are on the side of a small hill sparsely covered 
with trees. There is a specimen from this locality in the 
Museum Collection which was taken in 1885. In 1888, one was 
dug out of a burrow at Oulton Park by a gamekeeper. The 
late Lord Robert Grosvenor informed me that a specimen was 
taken in the Belgrave Avenue, Eaton, Chester; this was in 
1887, but I have not the exact date. In 1892, Mr. Percy 
Roperts, of Chester, possessed an adult female which was 
taken in the Cheshire Hills. In February of the same year 
she gave birth to ¢hree young ones; they only lived fora short 
time, however—the last one died when 127 days old; this 
specimen, through the kindness of Mr. E. HODKINSON, is now 
in the Museum Collection. I do not know of the species 
occurring in North Wales, except at Vaynol Park, the seat of 
ASSHETON SmiTH, Esq., where I had the pleasure of seeing 
two specimens in captivity; both said to have been taken 
on the estate. 
