A HISTORY OF NORFOLK 



INSECTIVORA 



7. Hedgehog. Erinaceus europauSy Linn, 

 Common. 



8. Mole. Talpa europaa, Linn. 



A variety, white or cream-coloured above 

 and rusty-yellow beneath, is quite common 

 in certain low-lying lands in the neighbour- 

 hood of Oby, Clippesby, and some other 

 places. Of twenty-five dozen moles taken 

 at the latter place thirty-five were white. I 

 am informed mixed broods are never found. 

 In six pregnant moles examined by me on 

 March 26th and 28th, 1878, four contained 

 four young ones each, the remaining two 

 only three each. 



9. Common Shrew. Sorex araneus, Linn. 

 Common. 



10. Pigmy Shrew. Sorex minutus, Linn. 



Bell — Sorex pygmatu. 



The lesser or pigmy shrew was first identi- 

 fied as a Norfolk species by Mr. Frank 

 Norgate from a specimen taken at Sparham 

 Heath in June, 1874, since which time it 

 has proved to be by no means rare. An 

 albino variety was killed at Thetford. 



1 1 . Water Shrew. Neomys fodiens, Pallas. 



Bell — Crossopm fodiens. 



The typical form of the water-shrew, with 

 the under parts pure white appears to be rare 

 in Norfolk. The form formerly known as 

 S. remifer, the oared shrew, with the dark 

 under parts and chestnut throat, being much 

 more frequent ; but I have met with every 

 intermediate variety of colouring. 



CARNIVORA 



12. Fox. Vulpei vulpes, Linn. 



Bell — Vulpes vulgaris. 



But for the protection afforded by sports- 

 men, it is not probable that the fox would 

 long be tolerated in a game country, and 

 doubtless those now found in Norfolk owe 

 their origin to other parts of the kingdom, or 

 to importation from abroad. I have been 

 told that at a time when foxhounds were 

 given up in Norfolk some of the foxes were 

 trapped and sent into Leicestershire, Bedford, 

 etc., and that many of these, having been 

 previously marked, were again trapped in 

 Norfolk. Some of the Westacre foxes, 

 which, I believe, owe their origin to the 

 continent of America, do not make ' earths,' 

 but ascend fir trees, and lie some thirty feet 

 above the ground, on the top branches, all day. 



13. Pine Marten. Mustela marteSy Linn. 



Bell — Martes abietum. 



The pine marten was probably not un- 

 common at the commencement of the present 

 century ; so late as the year 1 8 1 1 forty-three 

 were killed on one estate near Bury St. 

 Edmunds in the adjoining county of Suffolk, 

 but it is likely that the last of the native race 

 m Norfolk did not long survive that date. 

 In 1864 a marten was trapped at Kelling 

 and another in July, 1878, at Hevingham, 

 near Norwich. In the latter case every 

 endeavour was made to trace its origin with- 



out success, but I have little doubt both were 

 escapes. 



14. Polecat. Putorius putorius, Linn. 



Bell — Mustela putorius. 

 The polecat, formerly common enough, 

 has become very scarce in this county, and 

 seldom comes into the hands of our local 

 bird-stuffers. 



15. Stoat (Ermine). Putorius ermineus, Linn. 



Bell — Mustela erminea. 

 Locally, Lobster.'^ 

 This species is common in Norfolk, and is 

 frequently found in full white winter dress ; 

 this change does not appear to depend so 

 much on the severity of the weather as is 

 generally believed. In 1882 I counted forty- 

 one white, or nearly white, stoats in a bird- 

 stuffer's workroom at Thetford, all killed in 

 one year, the chief attraction being doubtless 

 the extensive rabbit warrens in that neigh- 

 bourhood. 



16. Weasel. Putorius nivalis, Linn. 



Bell — Mustela vulgaris. 

 Female, ' mouse hunter.' Common. I 

 have twice seen examples showing a consider- 

 able extent of white fur, probably partial 

 albinism, a change which appears to be rare 

 in this species. 



' It has been suggested that this is a corruption 

 of 'leapster' from its mode of progression. 



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