66 OBSERVATIONS ON QUADRUPEDS. 



ther on, more of the same substance was observed, 

 as well as the remains of a water-rat, and the feathers 

 and bones of what seemed to have been a moor-hen.* 

 After a few more spadefulls had been thrown out, 

 they came close upon the animal, which then bolted, 

 but was almost instantly seized and killed by a ter- 

 rier in attendance. It proved to be a male stoat of 

 the largest size, nearly clothed in its winter or ermine 

 garb ; the cheeks, shoulders, and ridge of the back 

 alone being interspersed with a few reddish-brown 

 hairs. At the end of the retreat, where the hole was 

 enlarged, the remains of other eels were found, and 

 among them one quite fresh ; which, judging from 

 the marks observed upon the snow, as above alluded 

 to, was supposed to have been caught the preceding 

 night. This it had begun to devour, commencing 

 with the head, and proceeding to eat downwards, at 

 the same time turning back the skin, probably by 

 the aid of its fore-feet ; and this accounts for what 

 had been observed in respect of the other skins, 

 which were all, as already stated, turned inside out. 

 How the stoat succeeds in catching its slippery prey 

 at this inclement season, when the eel, as has been 

 generally supposed, is inactive, or nearly dormant, is 

 a problem which remains to be solved. 



DOMESTIC CAT. 



CATS catch and devour the common lizard, f play- 

 ing with it also in the same manner they do with 

 mice. 



* Gallinula chloropus, Lath. t Zootoca vivipara, Bell. 



