10 FAUNA OF NORTH WALES 



12.— LESSER OR PIGMY SHREW. Sorex minutus Linn. 

 Not very uncommon in the west ; rare or overlooked in the east. 



On 5th February, 1911, one was taken at Plas Power, Wrexham, 

 and sent to me by Mr. Godfrey Fitz-Hugh. About the same 

 time and subsequently several were caught in traps baited 

 with cheese set in his greenhouse on the Little Ornie's Head 

 by Mr. G. A. Hutchinson, who sent me skins. The species 

 appears to be fairly common round Llandudno. In 1906 

 Mr. G. Bolam saw one killed and dropped by a Kestrel on 

 Aran near Bala ; while in the same district Mr. C. Oldham 

 found one dead on the road at Llanuwchllyn, 28th September, 

 1913 ; another at Llanfihangel Pemiant, 2nd October, 1913 ; 

 a third at Carrog near Corwen, 19th September, 1915 ; and a 

 fourth at Llanwnda, Carnarvonshire, 23rd July, 1916. 



13._WATER SHREW. Neomys fodiens (Schreber). 



Generally distributed in lowlands . 



Several specimens were caught by Mr. Hutchinson in the same 

 manner as the Lesser Shrews mentioned above. Mr. Ruddy 

 caught one in the pantry of his house at Llangollen I7th 

 December, 1909, in a mouse-trap baited with bread. Dr. 

 R. Newstead found the remains of fifteen in pellets of the 

 Tawny Owl from Colomedy, Mold, in May, 1902. 



WILD CAT. Felis sylvestris Schreb. 

 Extinct, except for hybrid descendants with the domestic cat. 



Entries of rewards for killing Wild Cats, Polecats, and Foxes 

 occur in the Vestry Book of Llanyblodwel, 1720 to 1825. 

 {Mont. Collections, 1906.) 



14. — FOX Vulpes vulpes (Linn.). 

 Generally distributed, except in Anglesey, where it is not indigenous. 



Mr. G. J. Williams writes that in 1815 the Ffestiniog Vestry 

 used to pay 20b. for every Fox, and 10s. for every cub. In 

 1817 the prices were 10s. a Fox, and 5s. each cub, and each 

 that was killed was to be hung from one of the yews in the 

 churchyard, or in some conspicuous place in the village. 

 In 1849 for a Fox 10s. a cub 5s. 



„ 1851 „ „ „ 15s. ,.. .., 7s. 6d. 



„ 1852 „ „ „ 20s. „ „ 10s. 



„ 1863 „ „ „ 10s. „ „ 5s. 



