OCCASIONAL NOTES. 55 
change colour previous to the winter months I am not in a position to say. 
When are the creatures supposed to assume their winter garb, and is it 
well known in what manner the change of colour is affected? If the 
one I saw had been endowed with reasoning faculties, and the power of 
changing its own coat, I might have said that its experience of the past 
summerless season had induced it to anticipate a correspondingly cold 
winter, or that the summer was not sufficiently warm to warrant a change 
from last winter's outfit. Mr. Bond says (Zool. 1879, p. 455) he has never 
seen d true albino Stoat. Neither have I; but a few winters ago I saw one 
wholly white, with the exception of the smallest patch of brown—no larger 
than a sixpence—upon the crown of its head, and the characteristic black 
tip to its tail, which latter was very conspicuous from the unusual whiteness 
of the rest of the body; for it doubtless has been observed that the white 
colour in many specimens is tinged with a yellow or pale brown shade, but 
possibly the more entire the change the whiter the individual becomes. I 
ought here to remark that the above specimen had not pink eyes, and 
consequently was not a true albino. Possibly, however, an animal that 
periodically changes its colour cannot be called an albino at all, but to come 
under that designation it must be altogether and always white. While on 
the subject of Stoats, I may be allowed space for the following notes :— 
Some time ago when out entomologizing along the hedge of a ploughed 
field, my attention was attracted to a certain spot at no great distance, from 
whence proceeded a peculiar cry ; standing quite still, to ascertain if possible 
the cause and purpose of such a performance, I saw a large rat emerge 
from the hedge and run out some distance upon the ploughed land, but 
only to return again and enter the hedge at a different point from where it 
had first appeared. I had not time to ask myself what could be the cause 
of such apparently strange behaviour, when I saw a Stoat make its exit 
from the hedge at exactly the same place as the rat had done, and, with 
back arched and nose to the ground, it seemed to follow every footstep of 
the poor doomed rat, like a bloodhound on the trail, back into the hedge 
again. The Stoat had scarcely entered the hedge when the cry of the rat 
became more piteous and piercing, and I hastened cautiously to the spot to 
see if possible the end of the fray; the density of the hedge, however, 
prevented my doing so, although I could hear a rustling and the gradually 
decreasing cry of the rat. It was evident the Stoat had no idea of forsaking 
its victim until it had accomplished its work, for having cleared aside the 
brambles, &c., sufficiently, I found the rat almost dead, with the least 
indication of blood behind one of its ears. Is it customary for the Stoat 
thus to hunt by scent, as well as by sight? In the case just cited it 
seemed to make far more use of its nose than of its eyes, and the rat 
certainly appeared unable to exercise the all-powerful right of self-preserva- 
tion, and to be held in thrall by the strange fascination which these 
