138 



SOME COMMON MAMMALS. 



our list with the Wild Gat, which is slowly but surely 

 being driven into the wilder and more remote parts of 

 Scotland. But we ought not to pass over the Grey Wolf, 

 which occurred in England up to the end of the fifteenth 

 century and for 150 years longer in Scotland and Ireland. 

 It still occurs on the Continent, in Russia, Spain, and even 

 in Germany and France. 



It is interesting to note that of all the animals in this 

 list it is not a long one those which are most numerous 

 to-day are the smallest of them all. This is probably be- 

 cause man in his war of extermination has taken less notice 



Fig. 46. The Stoat in its winter coat. 



of the small than of the large species. But at present he 

 wages pretty constant warfare upon these small species 

 and their numbers do not greatly diminish. Also the life 

 of the Weasel is becoming better understood and intelligent 

 man is staying his hand with regard to it. 



Let us suggest points to be noted in the structure of 

 these creatures. 



The Stoat measures to the base of the tail about 10 

 inches in length and is about 2 \ inches high at the shoulder. 

 Its tail is about 3J inches long. In summer its coat is red- 

 dish, with a black tip to the tail. The head is low and 

 flattened, the ears are small. It is a keen and alert 



