12 FAUNA OF NORTH WALES 



winds or sees a Grouse in the snow, it stamps on the snow to 

 harden it, and so obtains a firm spot to spring from, and it 

 very rarely fails to catch its prey. He adds that about Cwni 

 Bychan farmers often track them in the snow ; a young one 

 was taken there 18th May, 1907. 



Among recent occuirences in Carnarvonshire are a female 

 obtained by IVIr. F. Cobden at Capel Curig in April, 1909 ; one 

 trapped at the lighthouse on the Great Orme's Head (where 

 it seems to have gone in search of the poultry) June 6th, 1910 ; 

 and a male trapped near Trefriw, February 22nd, 1911. One 

 was trapped on Moel Siabod in 1910, and another at Beddgelert 

 in January, 1913. Mr, G. Bolam states that at least six were 

 trapped in the Bala and Dolgellcy district between 1905 and 

 1907. 



16.— POLECAT. Mustda putorius Linn. 



Almost extinct in the east and Anglesey ; not uncommon in parts of 

 Carnarvon and Merioneth. 



17. — STOAT. MuMela erminea stabiUs Barrett-Hamilton. 



Generally distributed and common. 



Pennant in his History of Quadrupeds mentions seeing " two 

 most perfect and beautiful Ermines " in his grounds at Mostyn 

 in February, 1780. In the Field (27th February, 1916), Mr. 

 V. F. Wynne Eyton of Mold, describes a Stoat's larder in a 

 Woodpecker's hole over twenty feet from the ground in a dead 

 oak-tree. It contained a recently-killed hen Blackbird. 



18. — WEASEL. Mustela nivalis Linn. 

 Generally distributed and common. 



19.— BADGER Meles meles (Linn.). 



Fairly common in the east ; rarer in the west ; unknown in Lleyn ; occurs 

 only near Menai Bridge in Anglesey. 



Of tlrree caught at IJanidloes in November, 1911, one was of 

 the curious erythristic variety of which several examples have 

 been obtained in Shropshire, though this appears to be the 

 only occurrence recorded in Wales. 



20.— OTTER. Lutra Intra (Linn ). 



Generally distributed in the lowlands, and more or less common in all 

 counties. 



