424 On the construction 



organs, and frequently hunt down their prey by the scent. This in- 

 teresting sight the writer has witnessed several times., where the 

 object of pursuit was a leveret or a rabbit. The chase was sometimes 

 of long continuance, although the circuit of operations was confined 

 to a very moderate space, and during the whole of its continuance, 

 it was evident that the ermine trusted more to its nose than to its 

 eyes. It is also a lover of fish, at least of eels, whose remains have 

 been met with when digging the animal out of the burrow, into 

 which it had been traced, but how this slippery prey is captured 

 has not yet been ascertained. The otter is now of rare occurrence, 

 and the last time the tracks of this animal were observed, is about 

 three years since. The mole is very plentiful, finding a secure re- 

 treat in the plantations and deans. Varieties of a cream-colour, as 

 well as of a fine silvery grey, are frequently taken in the traps. The 

 water shrew (Sorex fodiens) is in tolerable plenty about the mar- 

 gins of the rivulets. Like its congener, the Sorex araneus, it is often 

 found dead upon the paths. Upon examination, these all appear to 

 be wounded or bitten near the same part of the body ; the marks of 

 the teeth by which the bites are inflicted are minute ; and there is 

 good reason to believe, that these their death-wounds are received 

 in battles or contests, which take place at certain periods of the year. 

 May not this be a wise provision for keeping within due bounds, a 

 race of animals which appear distasteful to most others, and there- 

 fore not much pursued as an object of prey ? It has besides been 

 observed, that this mortality only takes place to any considerable 

 extent when the species are more than usually abundant. When 

 diving, and in search of its food among the stones or beneath the sur- 

 face, the water shrew appears like a moving mass of quicksilver, from 

 the sparkling appearance of the fur, which repels the access or im- 

 mediate contact of the water. The Sorex remijer, which occurs 

 in several of the southern counties, has likewise been detected, a 

 dead specimen having been found upon a path-way, answering in 

 every particular the description of the species, by Jenyns, Bell, &c. 

 The badger, it may be observed, used formerly to have his burrow 

 within the district ; and the wild- cat, Felis catus, was to be found, 

 not more than twelve years ago, within a distance of three miles. 



C To be continued.) 



II. — Observations on the construction of a Local Flora. By H. 

 Cottebel, Watson, Esq. 



In the first and second numbers of this Magazine, some re- 

 marks were made on the increased attention given to the study of 



