VERTEBRATE ANIMALS OF LEICESTERSHIRE. 167 
animal with much address and great cunning, surpassing even the 
adroitness and agility of the Ferret.” During the early part of 
December, 1856, according to a MS. note dated December 5th, 
1856, by Harley, who examined the specimen, a Weasel, pure 
white, even to the extremity of the tail, was captured near 
Leicester. Bell, in his ‘ British Quadrupeds,’ remarks on the 
rarity of such variation in the Weasel; and Harley states that 
the white specimen above noticed is the only one of the kind he 
ever met with. It might be supposed that Harley had possibly 
mistaken a small Stoat for a Weasel; but he adds :—‘“ The Stoat 
—its congener—becomes white in the dreary season of the winter, 
throughout, save the tip of its tail, the hair of which generally 
remains black. The change of dress and the variegated exterior 
of the Weasel is certainly of less common occurrence, if not 
very rare.” 
Meles taxus (Bodd.). Common Badger.—Generally dispersed, 
but not common. Writing of this animal 1840-50, Harley appears 
to have found it, even at that date, increasingly rare; for he 
writes—“ Formerly well distributed over the county, abounding 
in most large woods, especially those verging on the Forest of 
Charnwood. The woods of Gopsall and Oakley also bore marks 
of its retreat, even till within a very recent date. Used also to 
occur at Mere Hill Wood, near Loughborough. Not common.” 
The Leicester Museum possessed two specimens marked ‘“ Lei- 
cestershire,’ and the Donation-book of the Leicester Museum 
records the presentation—on April 2nd, 1860—of a Badger shot 
at Keythorpe Hall. Mr. Geoffrey Palmer, of Withcote Hall, 
informed me that it bred in the adjoining woods. There is no 
doubt that, although rare, it is still to be met with breeding in 
the county; for the Rev. A. Matthews, of Gumley, forwarded a 
‘half-grown living specimen—a male—to the Leicester Museum 
on June 28th, 1884. Mr. H. 8. Davenport writes (February 4th, 
1885)—“ Badgers are bred in Owston Wood; Ram’s Head, at 
Keythorpe; and Sir F. Fowke’s spinneys at Tilton-on-the-Hill, 
most years.” Mr. R. Widdowson writes, February 6th, 1885— 
“A great many instances of Badgers being killed within a few 
miles of us within the last year or two; have had two from Hoby. 
A friend residing at Eaton, near Waltham-on-the- Wolds, had, 
about four months ago, three within a week; two were young.” 
Mr. W. Ingram, writing February 7th, 1885, says—‘‘ Badgers 
