196 BRITISH QUADRUPEDS. 



tinge of yellow. It appears that the animal does not 

 actually lose its summer coat, for which a winter gar- 

 ment is substituted, but that there is an actual change 

 of colour in the existing fur. The transition from one 

 state of the coat to another does not take place, however, 

 through any gradation of shade in the general hue, but 

 by patches here and there of the winter colour, inter- 

 mixed with that of the summer, giving, says Mr. Bell, a 

 pied appearance to the animal. 



In the Alpine districts of Scotland, and in northern 

 latitudes generally, this change is universal, but south- 

 ward it occurs occasionally, and even rarely. In North- 

 umberland, and other counties in the north of England, 

 it is very frequent ; in the midland counties it is some- 

 times seen, and it has been observed more than once in 

 Cornwall. This remarkable alteration of colour appears 

 to be primarily occasioned not by the mere advance of 

 the season, but by actual change of temperature. Even 

 in a mild winter, the stoat has been observed with its 

 garment changed; but as the hills were its dwelling place 

 or frequent haunt, the coldness of the atmosphere on so 

 elevated and bleak a spot as the moorland to which the 

 animal was seen making its way, satisfactorily accounts 

 for the whiteness of its fur. 



The end designed by this transition is not beyond 



