SELECTIONS FKOM 



THE FAUNA OF BANFFSHIKE, 



BY THOMAS EDWAED, A.L& 



MAMMALS. 



MELES TAXUS [Badger or Brock]. See p. 102. 

 Sparingly met with in our wooded districts. 



MUSTELA MARTES [Pine Marten]. 



Found chiefly in the higher parts of the county. One was ob- 

 served, in 1848, to descend from a tree in the hills of Boyndie, 

 and go into a rabbit's hole. The hole was stopped up, and a 

 spade was brought to dig the animal out. It had, however, 

 escaped by another outlet from the burrow. 



MUSTELA PUTORIUS [Polecat or Fumart]. 

 See page 116. 



MUSTELA VULGARIS [ Weasel or Whitret]. 



More frequent than the polecat. Whilst the latter would seem 

 to delight more in plantations and whins, the other would ap- 

 pear to think more of old dykes, grassy hillocks, and small 

 cairns of stones. Both are very destructive, killing much more 

 than they devour. See p. 111. 



MUSTELA ERMINEA [Ermine or Stoat]. 



This species is often mistaken for the weasel. They are very 

 similar during summer, their colours being then the same. In 

 winter, however, the ermine changes to a pure white, excepting 

 in a portion of the tail, which is always black. In this state 

 they are all but universally called " White," or rather " Fite 

 Futrates. " The true weasel never changes. 



LUTRA VULGARIS [Otter]. 



Often met with in suitable localities along the sea-shore, as well 

 as by many of our streams and streamlets. See p. 115. 



CANIS vuLi'Es [Fox, Tod Lowrie, or Eeynard]. 



A -well-known animal, especially in the country districts. See 

 pp. 1U9, 219. 



