The Zoologist— May, 1868. 1185 



Quadrupeds in Lincolnshire. By John Cordeaux, Esq. 



Stoat or Ermine. — This graceful and agile but destructive little 

 animal is abundant in this district, and is of much more frequent occur- 

 rence than the weasel. In the winter they are sometimes seen mottled 

 white and brown, the latter colour generally predominating; much the 

 larger proportion, however, do not undergo any seasonal change. I 

 have occasionally seen one in our marsh district in the perfect winter 

 or ermine dress. On the 9th of March last I was fortunate in seeing a 

 beautiful ermine, almost perfect in colour. It was hunting over some 

 pasture land, quartering the ground in a systematic manner, after the 

 manner of an experienced pointer, and looking not unlike an animated 

 snow-ball. By keeping well out of sight below the bank, and imitating 

 the squeal of a rabbit, I called this little poacher within a short 

 distance, and had then a favourable opportunity of examining him. 

 He was altogether, excepting the black tip to the tail and a few 

 brown hairs on the thighs, pure white, without any apparent tinge of 

 yellow, and was a remarkably large and handsome specimen of his 

 race. The next day 1 shot a stoat, in the usual brown summer dress, 

 differing in no respect from what we see in the summer. Can any 

 reader of the ' Zoologist' explain this apparent anomaly in the stoat's 

 dress? Here were two animals in the same parish, at the same level 

 above the sea, showing at the same time the extremes of colour. I am 

 inclined to think that this change to the ermine dress is not altogether 

 consequent on cold weather. I have as frequently met with the white 

 ermine in mild as in severe weather, and the present season has been 

 exceptionally mild. Not long since I saw a stoat in pursuit of a rabbit : 

 how long the chase had lasted I cannot say, probably some time, as 

 the rabbit was then nearly exhausted, slowly cantering a few feet in 

 advance of its deadly foe. Whenever the rabbit stopped, which was 

 every i'ew yards, the stoat also stopped. Although I was at this time 

 standing in full view, both pursuer and pursued passed within half- 

 a-dozen yards ; fear on the one side, expectation on the other, 

 completely overruling their natural instincts. In watching this chase 

 what most surprised me was that the stoat all this time made no attempt 

 to seize the rabbit. Did he wish to completely exhaust his victim 

 before closing with him ? It reminded me very much of a well-trained 

 dog driving a sheep. An incautious movement on my part now made 

 the little brute fear for his own safety, and he in turn became the 

 pursued, but having then neither gun nor stick I had but Utile chance 



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