714 Quadrupeds. 



Anecdote of a Terrier being apparently poisoned by Vermin infesting a Rat. When 

 staying at Hamilton in Scotland a few years ago, my servant ran to me one day to say 

 there was a large rat in one of the out-houses, and to know where my terrier was. I 

 went with the servant, and the terrier killed the rat as usual; but in a second or two 

 afterwards, her mouth was covered with froth and foam, and she staggered about, and 

 appeared very ill, as if poisoned. This took place the instant she dropped the rat. 

 On giving her water and washing her mouth well, she was soon all right again. On 

 looking at the rat, it proved to be completely alive with vermin, though of what de- 

 scription the insect was I could not tell. I have been at the death of many hundred 

 rats, but never before saw one in such a state, it being covered with the vermin, al- 

 though very lively before he was killed by the terrier. — i". W. G. Spicer; Esher Place, 

 Surrey. 



Note on the Otter. This animal is occasionally found on the banks of the Trent, 

 but is a straggler from some distant stream, and never breeds here. A labourer in- 

 forms me, that about fifteen years ago one was observed upon the Blackwell brook, a 

 small trout-stream that intersects this parish), feeding greedily upon a fish which it 

 had just caught. Being a novelty, he was pursued by dogs, but having recourse to 

 his amphibious acquirements, he dived into the deepest places, and by that stratagem 

 long evaded being taken. He however yielded at last, and was finally killed on Mel- 

 bourne pool, but not without defending himself to the last with a valour and persever- 

 ance worthy a better fate. Another was observed in November, 1841, by the game- 

 keepers at Donnington park, on the Trent, in search of prey, but was not captured. — 

 J, J. Briggs ; King's Newton, Melbourne. 



Anecdote of a Cat hunting like a Dog. It is not, I believe, generally known, that 

 a cat will chase in pursuit of its prey, the same as a dog. I shot one the other day in 

 full pursuit of a full-grown rabbit, which came bounding by me in covert, the cat 

 coursing it just as a terrier would. Before this, I supposed that cats always sneaked 

 quietly up to their prey, and then sprung upon it. — i". W. G. Spicer ; Esher Place, 

 Surrey, June 12, 1844. 



Note on the Stoat. Nothing can exceed the assiduity with which the nimble little 

 stoat forages for his sustenance. Not content with pillaging farm-yards, and poach- 

 ing game-preserves, and confining his operations above the ground, he descends into 

 its bowels, and climbs the trees that grow upon its surface. Moles become an easy 

 prey to him, for he hunts them in and out of their subterranean avenues with an agi- 

 lity which must ensure their ultimate capture. Water-rats share the same fate. He 

 also ascends trees, and sports like the squirrel, and almost with its cleverness, along 

 the delicate branches, probably in pursuit of that animal or a bird, a feat which I have 

 witnessed to my astonishment many times. All kinds of mice are favourite food with 

 him. — J. J. Briggs. 



Note on the Habits of the Hedgehog. Our dyke sides, hedge-rows, copses and thick- 

 ets, are very favourite localities with the hedgehog, who leads a quiet and unobtrusive 

 life, feeding upon worms, insects, acorns and fallen wild fruits, and is rarely to be ob- 

 served in the day-time. Towards evening he issues forth from his hiding-place, and 

 may sometimes be descried stealing cautiously along the grass in search of food, stop- 

 ping occasionally to examine some wild plant or small object that attracts his notice. 

 They breed here every year, but the nest is rarely found, for it is generally very inge- 

 niously hidden, either in the bole of a hollow tree, or amongst some dried herbage or 

 leaves, in a copse or plantation. On June 26, 1840, a small terrier found, amongst 



