ADAMS; MAMMALS OF ASHBOURNE, DERBYSHIRE, 143 
have been killed in the immediate neighbourhood, but there 
are rumours of several having been seen, which I think is 
highly probable, as the river here is extremely suitable for 
them. 
Weasel (Mustela vulgaris) and Stoat (M. erminea). Both 
very common; the latter said to be the rarer of the two. 
Polecat. M. putorius. This has not been known for 40 years, 
when, Mr. Poole telis me, one was killed at Warslow Hall; 
this, however, is in Staffordshire. 
Yellow-breasted Marten. Mustela martes. An example 
was caught, within Mr. Poole’s recollection, 60 years ago in 
Dovedale (Mr. Poole is now past 70), and the stuffed animal is 
now in Ashbourne. 
We may conclude that this district was once the haunt of the 
Wild Cat (Felis catus) from the ‘Wild Cat Tor,’ near Matlock. 
The thick woods up and down inaccessible slopes in the Dale 
form just the sort of habitats for this animal almost extinct as 
British. There is, however, no record that I can find of its 
occurrence here. 
Fox. Vulpes vulgaris. Abundant all round and frequent 
‘meets’ take place in the immediate neighbourhood. 
Squirrel. Sciurus vulgaris. Very abundant in the woods all 
with 
the fruit to which it was always welcome, and twice a Squirrel 
has been seen on the flower-boxes which stand on the bedroom 
window-sills. 
I cannot hear of the Dormouse (MZuscardinus avellanarius) 
nearer than Oakamoor, in Staffordshire, but. I should not be 
surprised if it were to turn up in the woods on this side of the 
border. 
I am informed by my neighbour, Mrs. Holmes, of Clifton, 
that in a field at Marchington some years ago the Harvest 
Mouse (AZus minutus) used to be found in the corn, where it 
made its characteristic nests. The mice used to be caught 
to play with. This locality is also just over the border in 
Long-tailed Field Mouse. Mus sylvaticus. I have 
trapped this in the hedge banks round Clifton. It often 
causes damage to the bulbs in our garden, and I have caught 
them in our greenhouse where they are no more welcome 
than the 
