204 POLECAT— RABBIT 



and is twenty-two inches in length and weighed two-and-tliree- 

 quarter lbs. This rare animal was taken in a trap set for rabbits 

 in a rocky hill face at Leckmelm, Ross-shire. Fifty years ago 

 the polecat was found in every county from the Solway to 

 Sutherlandshire, and at that time was tolerably numerous in the 

 01)an district. The marten-cat, or more correctly speaking, the 

 pine-marten {Mmtela martcs) is also fast becoming extinct. A 

 very few specimens have been obtained in late years, and these 

 have principally been taken in traps set for rabbits. A very fine 

 specimen of the pine-marten was thus captured in the Melfort 

 district a short time ago. This latter specimen, together with the 

 polecat, has been added to Mr Bisshopp's interesting collection 

 of Highland mammals. It would be interesting if some of our 

 readers would favour us with the date of the last capture of the 

 polecat in Argyllshire. — December 13, 1902. 



PORPOISE. — Can, canach, canna, cribus-mara ; Esc-mur 

 (Old Ir.) ; Muc-bhiorach, mulbhach, mulcha, mullach ; Peileag, 

 peilig, peallach, poircean, poircein, puthag. 



Bucker; Caaing-whale ; Dogfish-pig, dunter (North); Gairfish 

 (Dundee) ; Lesser dolphin, louper dog (Banff) ; Meer or mere- 

 swim or swine ; Neisick, nisik, nissac ; Pallach, pallack, pallo, 

 pellach, pelag, pellack, pelloch, pellock, penag, porce-pesce 

 (Jonson), porpess, pullock (small) ; Sea-hog. 



The etymology seems to be derived by some from Pesce porco 

 (It.), Piscis porciis (Lat.), and is also called Pore iasg, the hog fish, 

 or Esc-muga (Iasg muc), lit. water pig. A pheileag, sar-iasgair a 

 chuain, or the boar of the wave. 



PROGENY (see Animal). 



PYGARG. — Damh-allaidh, damh-fiadhaich ; Earr, earra or 

 earran-gheal. 



Bubalus ; White-tail. 



This animal is thought to be a kind of deer, gazelle, or 

 antelope, and is given in the Gaelic Scriptures, Deut. xiv. 5. 

 Dishon. 



UEY (see Cow). 



Q 



RABBIT. — Coibhearan-muirt, coinean, coineanach, coineduach, 

 coinein, coulnich (Old Celtic) ; Fear-coinein (buck) ; Labran, leath- 

 choinein ; Pata, pataire (young) ; Rabaid. 



