168 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
Two or three, on an average, are still obtained every year on 
Ardnamurchan, but they are decidedly scarcer than formerly. In 
Glenmore only one was killed in two years, viz. in 1861. 
Forfarshire.—The last Polecat I can hear of in this county is 
one killed at Oldbar by Mr. Smart, about 1858 or 1859. One was 
trapped in the Carse of Gowrie in 1849 by James Keddie (fide 
Capt. H. W. Feilden). 
Kincardine.—F rom this county I have few returns, finding a 
difficulty in obtaining a correspondent on Natural History topics. 
Mr. Mowat, formerly keeper at Ury, informs me that they were 
plentiful about 1843, as many as three having been killed by him 
in a morning, but only one between 1849 and 1853. In 1851 one 
attacked his ferret and nearly killed it. On an estate adjoining 
he never heard of one being killed between 1862 and 1869. 
Aberdeenshire.—Polecats have long been extinct in the low- 
land districts of the county and in the north-west. About twenty- 
seven years ago (say 1853) one was killed in the “ kiln-logie” of 
an old kiln on the farm of Boghead. About 1832 a young lad 
saw one on the moss of Pitsligo, gave chase to it, drove it into a 
drain, and succeeded in killing it. About 1834 one played great 
havoc in the hen-house of Know-Head of Pitsillie: after killing 
all the ducks it was caught in a trap. Since that time the 
Rey. W. Grigor, of Pitsligo, has not heard of one in that district. 
Mr. Sim says it is now extinct around Aberdeen. About fifteen 
years ago he used to receive a few for preservation, ‘ but now 
none.” The last he had, he writes, ‘‘ was from Yokies Hill, 
parish of Mintaw, about ten years ago” (say 1870). In the Don 
Valley it has been extinct at least twelve years (say since 1868). 
Before that date Mr. James Robb, keeper at Kildrummy, in Upper 
Don Valley, used to kill two or three every year. In East Aber- 
deenshire probably extinct. Not known at Brucklay for the last 
ten or twelve years (say since 1870 or 1868). Twenty years ago 
they were numerous at Crathes, on the Dee, twelve miles above 
Aberdeen, when Mr. Will (now keeper at Keith) was there; he 
used to kill several in a season: now probably killed out. At 
Littlewood, on Donside, sixteen years ago (say 1863-64) Mr. Mackie 
(now keeper at Keith), in two years’ trapping, killed upwards of 
thirty Polecats. He says the best way of trapping them is at a 
high rock or by the side of an old “dry-stane” dyke which runs 
over the hill. Build a small “ housie” against the rock or dyke, 
