292 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



As to the habits of the Polecat, I do not propose to repeat 

 statements that may be found in Bell's * British Quadrupeds,' 

 for I take it for granted that a copy of this book is in the hands 

 of every reader of * The Zoologist.' For this reason, also, I omit 

 a detailed description of the animal, which is so similar in size, 

 shape, and colour to a brown Ferret, that every one must be 

 familiar with its appearance. 



But I may mention a few points which Bell has overlooked, 

 and perhaps supplement others with additional information. 

 First, with regard to the period of gestation. Bell tells us 

 (p. 206) that the female brings forth from four to six young, in 

 May or June ; but says nothing about the gestation, nor about 

 the condition of the young at birth. The period, as has been 

 ascertained by breeding in confinement, is six weeks. The 

 young are born blind, and do not open their eyes for a month. 



In regard to food, several instances have come to my know- 

 ledge which show the Polecat's partiality for frogs and fish, 

 especially eels. It is doubtless well known that eels slide over 

 the dewy grass in the early morning on their way from one water 

 to another, and thus get caught en route by the Polecat. 



I do not remember any reported instance of a Polecat being 

 seen in the water in pursuit of eels or other fish, although many 

 observers have testified to the fact of fish remains being discovered 

 in the animal's lair. But as I have many times seen Stoats 

 and Weasels swim, I see no reason to doubt that Polecats are 

 equally clever in the water, while the frequent discovery of fish- 

 bones in their haunts suggests that they are really much more 

 aquatic in their habits than their smaller relatives.* 



Just as Stoats and Weasels, which sometimes hunt in packs, 

 have been known to attack men and dogs,f so have Polecats 

 occasionally been known to do the same. % 



On the other hand, Polecats are easily tamed if not hurt when 

 they are caught, in which case handling makes them spiteful 



* Mr. J. H. B. Cowley, of Callipers, Rickmansworth, informs me that he 

 has seen a half-bred Polecat swim across a stream where a rat had just 

 crossed. 



| E. T. Booth, ' The Field,' Gth Oct. 1883 ; < The Gamekeeper at Home,' 

 p. 121, 2nd. ed. ; and W. Shand, ' The Field,' 25th July, 1891. 



\ ■ The Naturalist,' 1854, vol. iv. p. 95 ; and John Colquhoun, ' Ferae 

 Naturae of the British Islands,' 1873, p. 18, 



