104 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



inconsistent with the rule, such as white-tailed individuals killed in Novem- 

 ber or December, or dark brown or black-tailed ones procured in August, 

 or, again, any red-tailed ones, would be acceptable additions to the series in 

 the British Museum. This series, it is hoped, will be worked out shortly, 

 not only as regards the variation in the colour of the tails, but also as to the 

 growth and colour-change in the fur generally, and as to the development, 

 bleaching, and shedding of the ear-tufts. — Oldfield Thomas (Natural 

 History Museum). 



The Names of the Mole. — With reference to Mr. H. Raeburn's note, 

 on p. 04, on this subject, it would be interesting to learn in what part (or 

 parts) of Denmark the name Marsvin is applied to this animal, as it 

 usually means a Porpoise ; though I see by both the Dano-Norwegian and 

 Swedish dictionaries that it is also used for a Guinea-pig. Again, is it 

 certain that the first syllable is derived from the word signifying Elf or 

 11 Nightmare "? is it not rather from the word which is, I believe, both Old 

 Norse and modern Icelandic, meaning sea? Compare the French Marsuin, 

 which Rolland (' Faune populaire de la France ') derives from Old High 

 German Merisuin ; modern German Meerschwein ; Russian Morskaja 

 swinja (pronounce j as English y), all meaning Sea-pig; while the same 

 idea appears in the Spanish Puerco marino. The Mole does not occur in 

 Norway, nor (according to Lilljeborg, 'Sveriges och Norges Ryggradsdjur ') 

 further north in Sweden than Sodermanland. The Danish name for a 

 Mole is Muldvarp ; Muldvarpe, as quoted by Mr. Raeburn, is the plural. 

 The Swedish word is Mullvad, which agrees as to its last syllable with the 

 Scotch form ; and it should be remembered that the Swedish language, as 

 now used, is much nearer Old Norse than the Dano-Norwegian. — Alfred 

 Heneage Cocks (Great Marlow, Bucks). 



Irish Hare turning White in Winter.— At p. 260 of ' Science Gossip' 

 for February last, in Dr. Scharff's interesting sketch of the fauna and flora 

 of Ireland, it is stated that " in Ireland the Arctic or Mountain Hare does 

 not change its dress to white as it does in cold countries, but remains in its 

 brown summer hue throughout the winter." I do not know on what 

 grounds Dr. Schaiff has been led to make this statement, for, so far as my 

 experience goes in County Down, it is quite incorrect. At Finnebrogue, 

 near Downpatrick, a very large number of Hares are taken or killed every 

 year, and it is found that a considerable number of these turn very white 

 in the winter, while nearly all assume a much lighter shade of fur when 

 the cold weather sets in. The Irish Hare is considered to be exceptionally 

 strong and suited for coursing purposes, and a large number are exported 

 annually to England and Scotland for various coursing meetings. — W. E. 

 Warkand, Major-General R.E. (Harold Road, Margate). 



[In the recently published volume by Mr. Lydekker on ' British 

 Mammalia,' in Allen's Naturalists' Library, the same mistake is made. It 



