NOTES ON SOME OF OUR BRITISH MAMMALS. 9 
the Common Shrew (Sorex vulgavis)—a much rarer occur- 
rence than a white mole. 
Turning now to the Carnivora: one would have thought 
that the ancient Forest of Needwood would have proved a 
refuge for the genuine Wild Cat (Felis catus), indeed this 
fierce creature must anciently have been found both there 
and in the Peak district of Derbyshire, yet I have hitherto 
failed to find any written evidence of its existence in either 
place, although its bones are found plentifully with those of 
similar creatures in the Cresswell Crag Caves in Derbyshire. 
Stray specimens of the domestic cat frequently take to the 
woods and often attain a considerable size, becoming 
extremely destructive to the denizens of the game pre- 
serves and rabbit-warrens. 
Of the Wolf (Cams lupus) there is evidence to shew that 
Derbyshire was formerly a great stronghold of this fierce 
and dangerous beast, for not only are its remains abundant 
in the limestone caves, but, in the reign of Edward II, so 
common had they become in the King’s Forest of the Peak, 
that certain persons held lands at Wormhill by the service 
of hunting and taking wolves. In the previous reign, in 
1281, Peter Corbet was commissioned to destroy wolves in 
Gloucester, Worcester, Hereford, Salop, and Stafford. 
Sherwood Forest, also, continued to be infested with these 
marauders, and thus being not far distant from these wolf- 
haunted districts, Burton must formerly have been troubled 
by visits from this scourge of the flock-master and _herds- 
man. 
Of the Fox (Canis vulpes) little need be said, for he is 
ever with us, preserved as he is from extinction. But as 
an admirer of the Fox I must say a few words on one trait 
in his character which is generally greatly overlooked: I 
mean his courage. As we generally see him careering away 
before the hounds, straining every muscle to preserve his 
precious brush from the eager pack pressing hard at his 
