102 
OCCASIONAL NOTES. 
Orrers In Hampsarre.—Although some of our few indigenous British 
quadrupeds are gradually becoming scarcer in some localities, it is gratify- 
ing to state that in this locality the Otter is still a “native,” although 
mercilessly persecuted whenever opportunity affords. During 18801 know 
of some eight or nine having been caught. In the early part of the year a 
small specimen was shot by a man who was lying in wait for the morning 
“flight” of wildfowl, and as the year advanced one was killed in the New 
Forest. During the summer three or four were caught at different localities 
on the River Avon, and another—which I was told was a very large one— 
was caught in the little stream which divides the counties of Hants and 
Dorset, whilst another, much to the surprise of its captor, was trapped in a 
dyke at some distance from any main stream of water.—G. B. Corsin 
(Ringwood, Hants). 
SqurrREL swimminc.—Never having heard of the Squirrel taking to the 
water, I send the following authentic communication. I had heard the story 
told by another person, and thinking it of sufficient interest I requested her 
to get it in detail from the lady under whose personal observation it had 
come. This the latter has most kindly complied with, and I forward 
it, trusting it may prove of interest to readers interested in. the habits 
of animals :—“‘ Mountquhanie, Cupar, Fife. When rowing two ladies down 
Loch Voil, one afternoon last August, I observed what looked like a little 
stripe of red-brown fur in the middle of the loch. On coming nearer we 
saw that it was a Squirrel swimming across, its tail lying flat on the water. 
We then heard its claws scratching on the side of the boat, and, to 
our surprise, the little bedraggled sprite appeared on the bow of the boat. 
It was evidently tired, for it sat quite still, staring at us and panting. I 
rowed on towards the shore, hoping to be able to ferry it across, but after a 
few minutes it scrambled down to the water again and resumed its journey, 
probably frightened at the sight of the collie dog which was in the boat. We 
watched it swimming till it looked like a small speck close to the shore, but 
lost sight of it before it landed.” Loch Voil, in Perthshire, near 
Balquhidder, is about four miles in length, with a mean breadth of about 
one-third of a mile—a considerable extent of water for so small a rodent to 
face and cross, in search, I suppose, of new nutting-grounds.—H. H. 
Gopwin-AustEN (Thalford House, near Guildford).—‘ Nature,’ Feb. 10. 
{Although the swimming powers of the Squirrel are not referred to in 
Bell's ‘ British Quadrupeds,’ and are unnoticed by many good observers 
who have written on the habits of animals, instances of this kind have been 
previously observed and recorded. See ‘ Zoologist,’ 1872, p. 83272.—Eb.] 
