NOTES AND QUERIES. 433 
Squirrels. Some time since I was informed that the authorities of the New 
Forest had also given orders for the destruction of Squirrels, on account of 
the damage done by them to the young plantations of fir; but whether this 
order is still in force, or not, I am not aware.—G. B. Corbin (Ringwood). 
Note on the Squirrel.—With regard to the edible qualities of this 
little rodent, I believe there are many dwellers in the forest who have 
tasted its flesh, not so much perhaps from an epicurean point of view, 
as from a desire to talk about it afterwards; and yet I am told that if 
the creature is killed at a time when, and in a locality where, chestnuts, 
acorns, and ‘“ beech-mast” are easily obtained, the flesh, when cooked, so 
closely resembles that of the rabbit both in smell, taste, and appearance, 
that it might be mistaken for it by any person who did not suspect its 
origin. I was not aware that the buff or “creamy colour” of the tail in 
some specimens is caused by age. At various times I have seen and 
handled such specimens, but always supposed it to be an individual 
peculiarity at the time of changing the coat, for I always noticed in such 
cases that these yellowish hairs were much looser and more easily removed 
than their brown neighbours. A boy once brought me a Squirrel, the tail 
of which was entirely denuded of hair; and his statement was, “I caught 
this beautiful silver-tailed Squirrel for your collection, but when I took hold 
of it, its tail skinned, and all the fur came off in my hand.” I have also 
noticed that in most, if not in all, cases, where the tail is of a lighter hue, 
the long hairs decorating the ears, at certain seasons of the year, are of the 
same tint, and of a scanty appearance, which seems to indicate that the 
change affects both ears and tail; and yet it may be sometimes observed, 
in normally-coloured individuals, that whilst the whole of the body, 
including the tail, is covered with abundance of hair, the ears are compare- 
tively bare; so that after all the lighter colour may be indicative of age.— 
G. B. Coxrstn (Ringwood). 
[On this point, see Bell’s ‘ British Quadrupeds,’ 2nd ed., p. 279.—Ep.] 
Albino Bank Vole in Essex.—- During the last week of August my cat 
caught in the orchard, and brought into the house uninjured, an adult 
albino specimen of the Bank Vole (Arvicola pratensis). I forwarded it to 
the Zoological Society's Gardens, where it may be seen. It is a genuine 
albino, having pink eyes, although there is a slight sandy tint on the back. 
Mr. Bartlett has identified it as the Bank Vole. — Erwarp Ros.ine 
(Chelmsford). 
[Donovan has figured an albino example of A. agrestis in ‘British 
Quadrupeds,’ pl. 48; and another albino specimen was caught alive at Kast 
Bergholt, near Colchester, in November, 1872, as recorded in ‘ The Field’ 
of Noy. 30th, 1872.—Ep.] 
ZOOLOGIST.—Nov. 1885. 2L 
