324 APPENDIX. 



premiums were paid by Mr. M'lver, the factor. The Badger's name is 

 quite absent from lists of vermin killed in Assynt and Durness 

 between 1870 and 1S79, also from Reay Forest lists between 18(56 and 

 1880, and from the Assynt lists. One only is included in the Dunrobin 

 list between 1873 and 1880. We know of no part of Sutherland where 

 it can be called abundant, but the absence of its name in all cases 

 must not be held as invariably indicative of its absence in the flesh, as 

 in some parts, very wisely, no premiums are paid for Badgers. At one 

 time the " Brocair " or Badger-hunter, was a well-known man. Now he 

 is never heard of, and is replaced in person and in name by the Pox- 

 hunter. Supposed to be extinct, or nearly so, in the Tongue district, 

 none having been heard of during the last seventeen years, and only 

 two seen by Mr. Crawford during twenty-five years. 



Otter — Lutra vulgaris (Erxleben). 



Still not uncommon, though a persecuted species. In 1831 to 1834 

 premiums were paid for 263 killed on the Sutherland estates alone. In 

 Assynt and Durness only three are included between 1870 and 1879. 

 None between 1S66 and 1SS0 on Glen Dhu Farm or Reay Forest ; but 

 in Assynt, on Mr. Whitbread's shootings, twelve were killed by one 

 trapper between 1869 and 1880. We have no records of Otters amongst 

 vermin lists from Dunrobin ; but records of Otters killed do not per- 

 haps distinctly point out their distribution or comparative abundance 

 in different districts, for we know they yet frequent the Brora river 

 and Lothbeg burn ; near the latter place, indeed, one was caught by 

 rabbit-trappers on the Crakaig farm at the beginning of this year, and 

 we ourselves saw a fine one in Loch Brora on the 21st of February 

 last. 



Polecat or Foumart — Mustcla putorius L. 



The same causes which have decreased the numbers of the marten have 

 operated in the case of the Polecat. Rabbit-trapping has proved fatal 

 to it ; for whilst the increase of rabbits has provided it with abundance 

 of food, it has been the indirect means of causing its decrease (by the 

 agency of steel traps). Inland localities, formerly occupied by Pole- 

 cats, have been deserted by them, for they, drawing down towards 

 the sandy barrens to prey upon the rabbits, themselves became an 

 easy prey. Careful inquiries have elicited the fact that a few Polecats 

 still remain at certain sea-shore localities, but only now, where rabbits 

 do not abound and are not systematically trapped. An occasional one 

 is still obtained in the Tongue district, but the species is decidedly 

 rare there. 



Stoat or Ermine — Mustela erminea L. 



Very plentiful, and has even been seen on the summits of the highest 

 mountains. 1 



Notwithstanding the war of extermination being constantly carried 

 on, it is steadily on the increase, and this is very probably co-existent 

 with the increase of rabbits. This, at least, was the case in 18S0. 

 Not abundant in the Tongue district. 



Common Weasel — Mustela vulgaris L. 



Not so abundant as the last, and not, so far as is known, ascending the 

 hills to any great altitude, preferring the proximity of houses, farm- 

 yards, etc. 



Marten — Martes abietum (Fleming). 



The Marten appears now to be of rarer occurrence throughout Scotland 

 than the wild-cat, being extinct in many places still frequented by the 



i Mr. Omond records the appearance of a Stoat in the depth of winter 

 of 18S3-84 on the summit of Ben Nevis. 



