MAMMALIA. 7 



24. Mustela vulgaris Erxl. Common Weasel. 



Universally distributed, abundant everywhere. 



25. Mustela erminea L. Stoat. Ermine. 



Universally distributed, but not so numerous a species as 

 the weasel. In the north-western fells this animal is 

 known as the ' Polecat' 



26. Mustela putoria L. Polecat. Foumart. 



Irregularly distributed, extremely rare, and fast becoming 

 extinct. Half a century ago this species was generally 

 abundant. Escaped ferrets are not unfrequently mistaken 

 for this animal. 



27. Lutra vulgaris Erxl. Otter. 



Occurs in limited numbers in all the rivers, with the excep- 

 tion of the polluted streams of the manufacturing districts. 

 Apparently absent also from Holderness, 



28. Meles taxus {Schreb.). Badger. 



Very local, and extremely limited in numbers. Its present 

 haunts seem to be restricted to calcareous formations, 

 which afford it suitable habitats. In Cleveland it still 

 breeds near Pickering, near Kirby Moorside, at Hoving- 

 ham, and at Hackness. On the Wolds it appears only to 

 occur at Sledmere and Hunmanby, where, however, it is 

 now all but extinct. On the western side of Yorkshire its 

 habitats are confined to the narrow belt of magnesian 

 limestone, on which it breeds regularly at Hackfall, near 

 Ripon, and is reported as of rare occurrence at Marr, 

 Conisborough, Watchley Crags, and Brockerdale ; in the 

 last-named localities it has been extinct, and the habitats 

 restocked by specimens being turned down. As a straggler 

 it has been found in various localities throughout the 

 county, but many of these have been escaped or introduced 

 specimens. Formerly. it inhabited num.erous localities in 

 which it has now been for many years unknown. 



Fam. URSID-aE. 



There is no evidence whatever to show that the bear inhabit- 

 ed Yorkshire, beyond the fact that bones were found at 

 Richmond, in a refuse-heap, which Prof. W. Boyd Dawkins 



