Quadrupeds. 2697 



most singular part of this description, and where it entirely differs from that of the 

 otter, is the shape of the ears, which are stated to be " large and spreading." Now 

 the ears of the otter are neither the one nor the other : in my specimen — which mea- 

 sured, when in a fresh state, 28 inches 9 lines from the snout to the base of the tail — 

 they were only 6 lines long, and appear now in the dried specimen to be not more 

 than two-thirds of this in width. If it is not a young otter, to no other of our Mus- 

 telidae can it possibly be referred ; and the supposition that it is a hybrid between the 

 otter and foumart appears to me quite improbable, if not impossible : the difference 

 in size of the two animals seems to preclude all chance of this. I subjoin measure- 

 ments of such of our Mustelidae as occur here (with the exception of the marten, 

 which is very rare), taken from animals when freshly killed. They were taken in the 

 winter of 1846-7, and I have selected such as appeared to be nearest the middle or 

 average size. 



Polecat (a full-sized male ; a female would be less). 



in. lines. 



Head and body 17 



Head 3 4 



Ears » 4 



Tail 6 



Stoat. 



Male. Female. 



in. lines. in. lines. 



Head and body 10 9 9 



Head 2 3 2 



Ears » 5 „ 4£ 



Tail 6 5 4 7| 



Weasel (male). 



in. lines. 



Head and body 8 



Head 1 9 



Ears • » 3 



Tail 2 7* 



Otter (female). 



in. lines. 



Head and body 28 9 



Head 5 6 



Ears » 



Tail 15 



Weight 14 lbs. ; a male taken at the same time weighed 18 lbs. 



From this it may seem that the otter and polecat do not differ much in size, but in 

 actual bulk there is a vast difference, as the weight of the otter will sufficiently testify. 

 —Robert F. Tomes ; Welford, Stratford-on-Avon, January, 1850. 



Occurrence of the Water Shrew (Sorex fodiens) in Staffordshire. — On the 7th of 

 last month, about noon, as I was passing in a pony-carriage along the highway near 

 the corn-mill at Tutbury, in the county of Stafford, I observed a small black-looking 

 animal in the road before me. It was so busily engaged in searching among some 



