OCCASIONAL NOTES. 251 
On April 10th a Puffin was brought in by a Plymouth 
fisherman, and on the 28th I heard and saw several Whimbrels. 
A nest of young Ravens, fully fledged, was brought from Dart- 
moor about the same date. 
OCCASIONAL NOTES. 
Hounwixe tHe Witp Car.—To my remarks under this heading (Zool. 
1878, p. 251) the following may be added:—In 1205 (6 John) Gerard 
Camvile had special license to hunt the Hare, Fox, and Wild Cat 
throughout all the King’s forests; and in 1239 (23 Hen. 3), in con- 
sideration of a Goshawk given to Simon de Pierpont, Earl Warren obtained 
leave to hunt the Buck, Doe, Hart, Hind, Hare, Fox, Goat, Cat, or any 
other wild beasts in certain lands of Simon’s. But it was not for diversion 
alone that the Wild Cat was hunted. Its skin was much used as trimming 
for dresses, and in this way was even worn by nuns at one time. Thus in 
Archbishop Corboyle’s Canons, anno 1127, it is ordained “ that no Abbess 
or Nun use more costly apparel than such as is made of Lambs’ or Cats’ 
skins”; and as no other part of the animal but the skin was of any use 
here, it grew into a proverb that ‘‘ You can have nothing of a cat but her 
skin.” —J. E. Harrine. 
Witp Car AND OTHER RARER INDIGENOUS MamMALs oF ScoTLanD.— 
I have for some time back been working out the past and present 
distribution of the above, and have already in manuscript a pretty full 
account of several, including the Wild Cat, Marten, Polecat, Badger, and 
Black Rat. I have also notes upon a number of others. I should be glad 
if readers of ‘The Zoologist’ will assist me, and let me kuow of anything 
bearing upon the subject from time to time-——Jonn A. Harvie Brown 
(Dunipace House, Larbert). 
Bapcrer and Potecar NEAR Leeps.— The Badger is a very rare 
animal in this neighbourhood ; two specimens, however, have been obtained 
since Christmas. The first one was shot on February 24th, by Mr. Wright, 
the head keeper to Mr. Lane Fox, of Bramham Park. It was discovered 
asleep under a tree, and was shot with a view to its being preserved for his 
museum. It was in good condition, and weighed over three stone. The 
second one was killed on Mr. Tennant’s estate at Leacroft. It is possible 
that these animals may have been a pair, male and female, for they were 
found within a couple of miles of each other. I saw a Polecat at Adel last 
month. ‘This is another scarce animal hereabouts, for being great enemies 
to the gamekeepers, the latter do all they can to destroy them.—W. Raine 
(Leeds). 
