NOTES AND QUERIES. 303 



Alresford Grange after one of the big gales in this month. 

 Mr. E. Sillence, writing to the * Hampshire Independent,' reported 

 seeing a Swallow (Hirundo sp. ?), flying round Romsey station on 

 the 14th. 



December. 

 On the 2nd Mr. Stares sent me a Razorbill, immature, from 

 Porchester. On the 12th I saw the eggs of a Great Tit, which 

 nested in a hole of a wall at St. Cross, but deserted on this 

 date, owing, I suppose, to the sharp frost of the night before. 

 Mr. Turle (in litt. Dec. 14th) says, " There is a Harrier flying 

 about our place (Newton Stacey), but I have asked for it not 

 to be shot." 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



MAMMALIA. 



Mammals of Cheshire. — For some time I have been collecting evidence 

 of the occurrence and distribution of the Cheshire Mammalia, with a view 

 to the compilation of as complete a list as possible, and now write to ask 

 for the assistance of any readers of * The Zoologist ' resident in the county. 

 Information is particularly desired about the Polecat, Marten, Badger, 

 Lesser Shrew, Black Rat, Harvest Mouse, Dormouse, all the Bats, and the 

 Seals and Cetaceans of the Dee and Mersey estuaries. The presence in 

 any district of the various Voles, Mice, and Shrews may often be detected 

 by an examination of the embedded skulls in the pellets of the Barn Owl, 

 and if anyone is sufficiently interested in the matter to forward a supply of 

 these pellets, either to me, or to Mr. J. A. Coward, of Higher Downs, 

 Bowdon, who is co-operating with me, the help will be promptly and 

 gratefully acknowledged. During the next few months many opportunities 

 of obtaining Bats will doubtless occur, and we shall be glad to identify 

 and, if desired, return any specimens which may be forwarded to us. — 

 Chas. Oldham (Brookside, Sale, Cheshire). 



Polecat in Cambridgeshire. — Mr. Griffin, birdstuffer, at Cambridge, 

 has a very nice female Polecat, Mustela putorius, which he tells me 

 was killed at Swavesey, in the summer of 1892. — G. E. H. Barrett* 

 Hamilton. 



Bank Vole in Warwickshire and Worcestershire. — Until I read Mr. 

 Elliott's note (p. 223), I had overlooked the fact that this species had not 

 previously been recorded for Worcestershire. In May last I was at a bank 

 situated so close to the boundary line between Warwickshire and Wor« 



