THE EEL FAMILY. 383 



The fact of Eels having been discovered in the nest of 

 the Polecat is mentioned by Bewick. The keeper of Mr. 

 H. T. Frere, some years ago, when shooting in the Roy don 

 Fen, near Aylsham, noticed the same thing. His attention 

 was drawn to one of the pointers scratching vehemently 

 at a burrow in the bank ; he went to the spot and assisted 

 the dog in turning out a Polecat's nest, in which lay a per- 

 fectly fresh Eel with its head bitten off. How the Polecat 

 succeeded in catching it it is difficult to understand, unless* 

 as the keeper suggested, " the Eel had been taking an 

 evening stroll amongst the grass." In a letter in the 

 ' Zoologist 3 for 1846 upon this subject, Mr. Banister 

 says : te We have Polecats abundant in Pilling during 

 the whole year ; and in the winter season, when the water 

 in the ditches in the main drains is chiefly congealed, 

 and more especially when the ice is covered with snow, 

 the footprints of the Polecat may be traced on the ice, 

 and the most indubitable evidence is thus afforded of its 

 predilection for fish. Under such circumstances, I have 

 repeatedly ascertained that this animal is a most expert 

 fisherman; for in severe and long-continued frosts many 

 Eels ascend our open drains, and as these water-courses 

 are most slightly frozen over near the springs, the Pole- 

 cats, either by instinct or experience, discover the retreat 

 of the Eels. In tracing the footprints of the Polecat it will 

 soon be ascertained that he halts at every hole or opening 

 he meets with in the ice, and at once commences fishing 

 by introducing a fore foot into the water, and no doubt 



