2474 Quadrupeds. 



Inquiry as to the best mode of preparing Skeletons. — If some of the contributors to 

 the ' Zoologist' will, through its pages, be kind enough to give some instructions as 

 to the best method of preparing skeletons, they will confer an esteemed favour on my- 

 self, and perhaps others also. Dissecting some of the smaller animals by the knife is 

 very tedious. I have often buried my specimen in an ant-hill for that purpose, but 

 invariably before the work was completed have I lost it — I suppose by some predatory 

 animal. I have thought, in these days of chemical knowledge, some of your cor- 

 respondents might know of some substance that would destroy the flesh without injury 

 to the bone. — Joseph Duff; Bishop's Auckland. 



[Carrying out the plan of employing ants as the anatomists, the animal may be 

 placed in a perforated tin box or canister. — Edward Newman.'] 



Can the Ferret exist in a state of Nature in England P — Mr. Bird asks (Zool. 2440) 

 if the ferret can exist in England in a state of nature. On this point I am not able 

 to answer him in a positive manner ; but it is my opinion that it can, for which I will 

 give my reason. Six or seven years ago I kept ferrets for the purpose of destroying 

 rats : on one occasion, having put a ferret into a rat-hole, 1 lost sight of the animal 

 for about a week, when he was found wandering in a plantation in search of food : 

 this happened in cold weather. Some time after I lost him again, and he was not 

 heard of for a fortnight ; but was at last found near some rabbit-holes, half a mile 

 from the place where lost. — E. Peacock, Jun. ; Messingham, Kirton Lindsey, May 7, 

 1849. 



A Rat killed by a Frog. — As James Ashworth, who resides at Gravel Hole, near 

 Thornham, had occasion to go into a plot of ground, in which is a pool of water, his 

 attention was drawn to a rat, which plunged into the water and swam nearly across, 

 but suddenly disappeared : he then went round the pool, thinking it might have taken 

 refuge under some brink of the water, but being unable to rouse it he was about leav- 

 ing the place, when, to his great astonishment, he saw — at a few yards from the side 

 — the rat dead, although still warm, with a large frog holding it by the throat. — Com- 

 municated by F. Webster. 



Is the Water Rat (Arvicola amphibius) entirely Herbivorous P — Can any of the 

 correspondents of the ' Zoologist ' inform me if the common water rat is entirely 

 herbivorous in its habits ; or if it does not now and then, just for a treat, feast on a 

 young duck or chicken ? — E. Peacock, Jun. ; Messingham, Kirton Lindsey, May 8, 

 1849. 



Whistling Mouse. — A remarkable fact has lately come under my notice, of the au- 

 thenticity of which I have not the slightest doubt. A family, residing in this county, 

 frequently heard in one of their rooms a shrill whistle, resembling in tone and power 

 the highest note of a canary. At first little notice was taken of the circumstance ; but 

 its repeated occurrence, and the sweet trilling note, sometimes loud and piercing, at 

 others dying away in the softest cadence, led to an investigation, and, much to their 

 astonishment, the delightful little songster was discovered to be a mouse. They fre- 

 quently saw it as it crossed and recrossed the room, and, as if conscious that he 

 afforded amusement to his listeners, appeared in no haste to retreat. This continued 

 fox about tWO months, when, workmen being employed to do some repairs to the room, 



