A Prolific Polecat. 185 



tave been a work of quarrying and cost. So the fate of 

 fox and dog remains undetermined ; thougli, certainly, 

 it was death to the latter, and likely to both. But here 

 again we have another mystery, diflScult of elucidation as 

 that which occurred on Howie Hill ; the same question, 

 under somewhat different conditions : what caused the 

 death of the animals ? Did they kill one another ? Or 

 did they go fighting on so far into the cavity as to be 

 unable to find their way out again ? Or was there a 

 badger also within, that destroyed both as intruders upon 

 its " holt " and home ? Its outgoing tracks would not 

 be seen, as it would not likely come forth so long as the 

 snow lasted — too cunning for that. 



A PEOLIFIC POLECAT. 



As is generally believed, the polecat, or fitchet {Mustela 

 pidorius), of which the ferret is erroneously supposed to 

 be but a domesticated variety, is not so prolific as the 

 ferret ; yet there are instances of it also producing more 

 numerously than is stated in zoological works. Mr. Bell, 

 in his " History of British Quadrupeds," speaking of it, 

 says: "The female polecat brings forth four, five, or six 

 young." This may be the normal number ; but I have 

 note of a case in which it was exceeded, no less than seven 

 young polecoats having been dug out of a den, near the 

 banks of the river Wye, all evidently of the same "kitten- 

 ing." This, in a way, tends to show near relationship 

 between the ferret and polecat ; and, beyond doubt, they 

 are closely allied, yet still specifically distinct. As some 

 proof of their being so, I may point to the close resemblance 



