MARTENS, POLECATS, AND WEASELS. II3 



second longer than the fifth, the third longest, but the fourth 

 almost equal. The eyes are small, with the iris dark brown ; 

 the claws rather long, compressed, arched, and a greyish- 

 yellow tint. The under-fur is very soft and woolly ; the pile 

 long and rather coarse, but smooth and glossy. The general 

 colour is dark brown, the long hairs brownish-black, the under- 

 fur yellowish ; the lower parts of the neck and body, with the 

 feet and tail, darker than the rest, the sides yellowish-brown ; 

 the lips white, as are the ears anteriorly and along the tip 

 behind j and between the eye and ear is a brownish-white 

 patch.* 



Distribution. — The geographical range of the Polecat includes 

 the greater portion of Europe, its northern limits extending 

 to the south of Sweden, and in Russia to the White Sea ; it is, 

 however, unknown in the extreme south, and its predilection 

 for a cool climate is indicated by the circumstance that during 

 the summer it ascends in the Alps far above the forest limit. 

 In England, owing to the relentless persecution of gamekeepers, 

 it is one of those species fast approaching extinction, being 

 now but rarely met with in most of the southern and midland 

 counties. Mr. Montagu Browne, for instance, writes that in 

 Leicestershire and Rutlandshire it is becoming increasingly 

 rare, and will soon be exterminated. In the Lake district, 

 where these animals were once so abundant that in one unusually 

 good season as many as thirty-nine were killed, we are told by 

 the Rev. H. A. Macpherson that within the last thirty years, 



* Mr. W. E. de Winton writes : — " 'fhe winter fur becomes pale and 

 faded before it is shed in May. By the first of June the fur is entirely 

 changed in both sexes. The female, or 'Jill.' changes her entire coat 

 directly she has young, at the end of April or beginning of May. The 

 male, or ' Hob,' changes his more leisurely throughout the month of 

 May. He is then known as the ' Black Ferret,' and has a beautifiil 

 purplish-black coat. As in all Mustelida, the male is half as big again as 

 the female. I have kept Polecats alive, and know where they are still 

 fairly plentiful." 



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