214 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
NOTES ON THE VERTEBRATE ANIMALS OF 
LEICESTERSHIRE. 
By Monracu Browne, F.Z.S. 
Curator, Town Museum, Leicester. 
(Continued from p. 169). 
Order InsEcTIVORA. 
Talpa europea, Linn. Common Mole.—Generally distributed 
and common, breeding in the county. Harley was informed by a 
man who had been a professional mole-catcher for more than 
sixty years, that he had never seen a mole alive in a state of 
freedom. Mr. Macaulay tells me that some few years ago (1881 
or ’82) he observed one whilst* driving between Mowsley and 
Saddington, and succeeded in catching it before it had time to 
bury itself. Harley says:—“ Buff and white, or parti-coloured 
individuals occasionally occur.” One in Leicester Town Museum, 
labelled, ‘From Belvoir. Mr. Jno. Ryder.” This specimen I 
find noted in old MS. Donation Book as being presented on 
April 25th, 1862. It is of a uniform cream-colour, inclining to 
ferruginous on the limbs. The Rev. Andrew Matthews, M.A., 
Rector of Gumley, showed me one precisely similar, caught by a 
mole-catcher in an adjoining parish during the first week of June, 
1884, the man stating at the time that he had met with several 
other examples during the course of his trapping. This speci- 
men was recorded in ‘ The Zoologist’ for July, 1884, page 271. 
Curiously enough, Mr. Matthews procured another on March 20th, 
1885, which had been caught in a trap at Laughton Hills. He 
describes it as being the handsomest he ever saw, a large male of 
an amber colour, with the nose white nearly to the eyes, cheeks 
and back of the head and neck bright orange. 
Sorex vulgaris (Linn). Common Shrew.—Generally dis- 
tributed and common, breeding in the county. Harley remarks 
upon the great numbers found dead in pathways every autumn. 
Sorea fodiens (Pall.) Water Shrew.—Harley says :—‘‘ Not 
common. Occasionally met with on the banks of water-courses 
and drains in the meadow lands near Loughbro’.”. Mr. Widdowson 
writes, February, 1885 :—‘‘ I know one locality they frequented a 
few years ago, namely, Sysonby, about a mile from Melton.” 
Erinaccus europeus, Linn. Common Hedgehog.—Generally 
