302 MAMMALS.—WHITE VARIETIES. 
other counties to partake of the ornithology of the 
continent, and likewise to receive a variety of birds 
which migrate from northern counties or kingdoms. 
Reverting to the mammalia we have still a few 
remarks to make. Our woods and thickets are so 
numerous and sometimes so little frequented that. 
the Hedgehog, Badger, Fox, Hare, Squirrel and 
Dormouse are all found pretty abundantly, and the 
Shrew, Weasel, and various kinds of Mice frequent 
in plenty our fields and hedges. I am not quite sure 
respecting the Water Shrew, but I believe I have 
taken it while a boy in the stagnant waters of the 
entrenchment round Devonport, and it is generally 
believed to be an animal not rare, though very shy 
in its nature. In the space of ten years I have 
not seen above three or four specimens of Polecat 
in this neighbourhood though I have been much in 
the habit of inquiring on such subjects among 
gamekeepers. On the other hand the Stoat and 
Weasel are plentiful throughout the county. ‘The 
Harvest Mouse is found in Cornwall, and from re- 
ports there is great reason to believe it is tolerably 
common in Devon. I very lately captured the new 
species of mouse described and figured further on, 
and designated Shaggy Vole. The Black Rat is 
scarce with us. 
The assumption of the white fur in quadrupeds 
has been ordinarily supposed peculiar to northern 
latitudes, or at most to our northern counties and to 
depend on great cold, but a white Hare was seen in 
a wood near my house one winter and though that 
season was unusually severe it is certainly difficult 
to understand why certain individuals of this animal 
and of the Stoat and Weasel should assume this garb 
in not very cold seasons. White Rats have been cap- 
tured at times in warrens, where this species is 
known to resort for the sake of the young rabbits. 
White and cream-coloured Moles are also found 
