Quadrupeds. 4'2o 



Otter, Lutra vulgaris. 



Fox, "Tod," Canis Vulpes. The depredations of the fox in the hen- 

 roost are seldom heard of now : about thirty years ago they were very 

 common. This happy change in the number of Reynard's visits to 

 the property of his neighbours, is not to be accounted for by any dimi- 

 nution of his numbers, at least in the lower and better cultivated por- 

 tion of this county. He has scarcely been the object of the chase here 

 since the late Duke (Alexander) of Gordon gave up his fox-hounds. 

 The plantations are vastly increased, and the furze-covers as extensive 

 as ever, where he may shelter with impunity: so that the only reason 

 we can assign for the comparatively honest character he has lately 

 acquired with us, is that the profusion of rabbits now spread over the 

 district, supplies him with abundance of food without moving far from 

 the mouth of his hole, or subjecting himself to detriment or death in 

 visiting the hostile habitations of men. In the pastoral or upper dis- 

 tricts persons are kept in constant employment by the sheep-farmers 

 to keep down as much as possible this formidable enemy of their lambs. 



Wild cat, Felis Catus. Found only in the largest forests and among 

 the subalpine rocks and valleys of the Province. One killed above 

 Cawdor-castle, measured from the nose to the tip of the tail 3 feet 9 

 inches, of which length the tail itself occupied 15 inches. 



Common seal, " Sealch," Phoca vitullna. 



Mole, Talpa europcea. The albino variety seems to be not unfre- 

 quent at Dalless, on the Findhorn. 



Shrew, "Straw mouse," Sorex tetragonurus. This is found in most 

 marshy or damp enclosures. At least one other species has been seen 

 in the Province of Moray ; but until other specimens are obtained and 

 compared with Mr. Jenyns' papers in 'The Magazine of Zoology and 

 Botany' for June, 1837; and in 'The Annals and Magazine of Na- 

 tural History,' i. and vii.: the provincial species cannot be accurately 

 given. 



Hedgehog, Erinaceus europaus. Very rare: one found a few years 

 ago, when clearing away the foundation of an old wall near Elgin 

 Cathedral. Occasionally met with in Strathspey. 



Bat, Vespertilio Pipistrellus. Many are not aware of there being 

 more than one species of bat in the north of Scotland ; but as others, 

 — for instance, Vespertilio Daubentonii, at Aberdeen — have been 

 found, they may also be expected as early additions to this list of de- 

 nizens of the Province of Moray. 



Squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris. Occasionally seen in the woods of 

 Strathspey. 



