NOTES AND QUEEIES. 327 



mark. The bird flew out while we were collecting the pellets. On 

 examination of the contents we found two skulls of the Lesser Shrew, 

 Sorex minutus, and, as this is probably the first time this animal has been 

 noticed in Anglesea, it is worth recording. The pellets also contained 

 remains of the following : — One young Rabbit, Lepus cuniculus ; four 

 Rats, Mus decumanus ; seven Mice, M. musculus ; ten Long-tailed Field 

 Mice, M. sylvaticus ; six Water Voles, Microtus amphibius ; twelve Field 

 Voles, M. agrestis ; two Water Shrews, Crossopus fodiens ; nineteen Com- 

 mon Shrews, Sorex vulgaris; four small birds; and the elytra of five 

 beetles, Melolontha and Geotrupes. — T. A. Coward (Bowdon). 



CARNIVORA. 



Pine Marten in the County Waterford.— I was much interested in 

 Mr. A. Heneage Cocks's note (ante, p. 270), and now write to say that I 

 have had the pleasure of seeing for the first time, alive and in a state of 

 nature, a fine Pine Marten. On the 21st of this mouth (June) I was 

 walking through the beautiful woods of Curraghmore, which adjoin Coolfin, 

 when I heard a regular uproar by birds. It came from a spot a hundred 

 yards or so away. Walking in the direction as quietly as possible, I 

 expected to see a Fox carrying off a young bird. Among the branches of 

 some low oaks was a large party of Blackbirds ; one of them, a fine cock 

 with bright orange bill, being greatly excited, scolding away at the top 

 of his voice, and with outspread wings facing a point from which he 

 expected trouble for himself and family ; and there among the leaves, lying 

 close along a branch, was a Marten, crouching low as if he was going to 

 spring. It was a most interesting sight, and neither the Marten nor birds 

 seemed to pay much attention to me as I watched them. Nothing can 

 exceed the gracefulness and quickness of movement in the Marten. It 

 twists and turns its lithe and supple body in every direction, and with 

 wonderful rapidity. One must see it in a state of nature to appreciate what 

 a deadly foe it must, be to birds both old and young. Having watched 

 them for some time I went away, and on my return both Marten and birds 

 had disappeared. He was probably having his supper on the old cock, or 

 a younger member of the family. — William W. Flemyng (Coolfin, Port- 

 law, Co. Waterford). 



Albino Badger in Hants.— On Feb. 9th of this year a Badger was 

 caught near Basingstoke, exhibiting the following curious form of variation. 

 The fur is quite white except at the tail, which is reddish brown ; the eyes 

 are pink, a feature correlated to albinism. The animal is mature, and a 

 fine specimen ; it is in the possession of Mr. Spriggs, of the Royal Hotel, 

 Winchester, who will be glad to show it to anyone who wishes to see it. — 

 G. W. Smith (College, Winchester). 



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