68 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



They were of an uniform grey colour, and in this respect very unlike older 

 individuals. They were deposited underneath some planks forming part 

 of the floor of a boat-house, to which the female gained entrance by 

 burrowing under the water into the bank, and then working upwards, as 

 I believe is their usual wont. There was but little semblance of a nest, 

 only a few green water-weeds having been collected together, and upon 

 these the infants were reposing with their parent, who stoutly refused to 

 leave her tender charge, and with a maternal courage which certainly 

 deserved a better fate forfeited her life in their defence. Is August the 

 usual time for young Otters, and are there usually two at a birth? 

 [Young Otters have been found in almost every montli of the year. — Ed.] 

 My friend informed me that indications of the presence of Otters near the 

 boat-house — by partly devoured fish — were abundantly evident for a long time 

 previous to the capture of the above; and it is gratifying to all who take 

 an interest in our comparatively few British wild quadrupeds tliat Otters 

 are far from rare about the Hampshire Avon, and they naturally frequent 

 those parts of the river where fish-preservation offers them the best chance 

 of livelihood with the least amount of labour. I was not aware of the fact 

 that Otters will kill and devour Wild Ducks when in the "flapper" state. 

 Is it well known? — G. B. Corbin (Ringwood). [We have heeard on good 

 authority of their lulling and eeting Moorhens and also Water-rats. — Ed.] 

 Weasels killing Moles. — Apropos of the question whether Stoats and 

 Weasels kill Moles (Zool. 1886, p. 450), I came upon the following note in 

 * The B'ield ' of May 1st, 1886, .which may perhaps be worth reprinting as 

 bearing on the question. Mr. H. H. Simpson, of Bowdon, Cheshire, 

 writes: — "In 'The Field' of April 24th a correspondent mentions the 

 capture of a Weasel in a mole-trap, and asks whether it is a common thing 

 for Weasels to hunt Moles. As there seems to be some doubt whether 

 Weasels actually prey upon Moles or not, I may mention that I saw a 

 Weasel run across the road near here carrying a Mole in its mouth, 

 apparently with the greatest ease, for its head was held up high, and the 

 Mole was quite clear of the ground. The Weasel with its burden dis- 

 appeared down a hole, where it is reasonable to suppose that the Mole 

 would be made a meal of." Another instance of a Weasel having been 

 seen in the act of carrying a Mole was previously recorded in the same 

 paper, July 9tb, 1881. In this case the Mole was picked up by the person 

 who witnessed the occurrence, and who shot the Weasel and had both 

 animals stuffed. On the 7th May last my brother told me that he 

 had a few days before found a young Weasel in a large mole-hill in 

 some marshes at Leiston. It was apparently only just born, and he thinks 

 it must have been the first of a litter, and that the mother, disturbed by his 

 dog, probably escaped through some of the holes or runs of the Mole. — 

 G. T. liuPK (Bia.vball, Suffolk). 



