456 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
the pursuit of Deer and Fox. A few hours now and then with 
gun or rod, requiring less severe exertion, was all that an enthu- 
siastic sportsman, advancing towards threescore years and ten, 
could hope to have strength for and enjoy. Those who, like the 
‘writer, had the privilege to know him personally will mourn the 
loss of a most agreeable and accomplished friend and companion ; 
while those who knew him only through his books must, we think, 
regret that the hand which wrote them can no longer impart to 
others any of that delightful enthusiasm which he constantly 
experienced in the pursuit of field-sports and the study of Natural 
History. He died on the 23rd of September last, and was laid 
to rest in the quiet little churchyard of Trotton, close to the 
house in which he had passed so many pleasant years of his life. 
NOTES AND QUERIES. 
MAMMALIA. 
Variation of Colour in the European Squirrel. — My attention was 
attracted the other day by an unusual variety of the Common Red Squirrel, 
shot near Innsbriick about August 15th. Its peculiarity consisted in a 
circle or band of pure white hairs (nearly 7 cm. broad) across its tail. 
Although an old animal, both tail and ears were abundantly covered with 
fur. As regards the distribution of Black and Red Squirrels in the Vorarl- 
berg and North Tyrol, I should reckon three black ones to every two red 
ones, the intermediate dark brown form being scarce; the two former often 
assume the grey pelage in winter, and interbreed freely. At Karlsruhe, in 
the extensive “ Hardwald,” the black variety is seldom seen; whereas the 
red and dark brown, now and then also tinged with grey, are comparatively 
abundant.—G. N. Dovexass (Stephanien Street, Karlsruhe). 
Do Stoats and Weasels kill Moles?— In the spring of this year 
I found the freshly-killed bodies of two Moles (male), one of an orange and 
yellow contour, the other black. The light one has been severely handled, 
the stomach having been ripped open, and a large portion of the entrails 
having been eaten. The black Mole, which was lying about four feet away 
from the light one, had only one injury, which had apparently been inflicted 
by a Stoat, as it was situated at the side of the neck, and was of a circular 
form. This appears a strange instance of Nemesis overtaking the victor 
in the moment of triumph.—E. P, Larxen (Gatton Tower, Reigate). 
