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OCCASIONAL NOTES. 
THE Marren 1n Norts Wates.—The Marten seems so nearly extinct 
in many parts of the British Islands that its occurrence anywhere at a recent 
date is of interest. I therefore think it worth while to say that when on 
a driving tour in North Wales last June, I was stopping at the hotel at 
Bethgelert (‘The Goat’) for a few days, both on my way out and back. On 
the staircase were two stuffed Martens, which I was told had been killed 
near that place about five or six years before—perhaps the first might have 
been killed as much as seven years before I was there—but I could not 
arrive at the exact dates; one of them certainly looked as if it had been in 
its case some considerable time longer than the other. On making enquiries 
about these two, I was shown another, which had all the appearance of being 
a much more recent specimen than either of the others. This one I was 
informed had been killed about two years before, probably towards the end 
of 1879; but, as in the case of the other two, I could not get the exact date. 
One having been killed so recently as a year and a half or two years ago 
makes it very probable that the Marten is not yet extinct in North Wales. 
I do not remember any record of these two Martens, so think it quite worth 
while to send you this note of an animal which is probably on the verge of 
becoming extinct.—Crci Sirx (Lydeard House, Taunton). 
Tue Youne or THE Pine Marten.—With reference to Mr. Cocks’ note 
(p. 333) I wish to withdraw my words, “never more than three,” which 
were too hastily written. Although three is the usual number, I have 
known occasionally of four, and in one instance of five. I hope soon to 
have collected sufficient statistics for a short paper on the Pine Marten in 
Cumberland.—Caries A. Parker (Gosforth, Cumberland). 
Movs ALEXANDRINUS at Norwicu.—A rat of this species was killed on 
board a wherry delivering maize at one of the wharves in Norwich, on the 
18th August last. It is not unlikely this species is occasionally brought in 
grain-laden vessels from the Mediterranean ports, and, as in the present 
instance, mistaken for Mus rattus.—T. SourHweEtt (Norwich). 
[For some remarks on the occurrence of Mus alexandrinus in other 
- parts of England, see ‘ Zoologist,’ 1860, p. 7232, and 1878, p. 388. There 
is some ground for believing that this animal and the Black Rat, Mus 
rattus, are merely geographical races of one species, and that Mus 
alexandrinus is the oldest or parent breed. See Bell, ‘ British Quadrupeds,’ 
2nd ed., p. 8306.—Ep.] 
Borrie-NosED DoLpHin In THE Cotne.—On Sept. 5th a large porpoise 
was seen in shallow water near Brightlingsea, and was soon captured, after 
receiving, at a short range, a charge of shot just above and behind the left fin. 
