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NOTES AND QUERIES. 



MA MMALI A. 



Common Shrew on Scotch Islands. — With reference to recent 

 notes on the Common Shrew in Islay, I should like to say that, as far 

 as my information goes, although this Shrew is absent from Ireland, 

 Man, Lundy, the Outer Hebrides, and the Orkneys, in all of which 

 the Pigmy Shrew is alone found, it is common on many of the Inner 

 Hebrides, such as Islay and Jura, from both of which I have examined 

 specimens. Its presence on these islands, if not due to introduction, 

 may lead to a modification of Alston's views on the origin of Scottish 

 and Irish mammals, but in view of the recent discoveries of new and 

 unexpected forms in other Scottish islands, such modification is 

 quite natural, and, indeed, inevitable. — G. E. H. Barrett-Hamilton 

 (Kilmanock House, Campile, Co. Wexford, Ireland). 



Fauna of Lundy Island. — Since my paper on this subject appeared 

 in 'The Zoologist' (1909, p. 441), I have received another speci- 

 men of Sorex minutus from the island. Of the five Lundy Shrews 

 captured, four have proved to be S. minutus, and the fifth (thought 

 to be S. araneus) was not critically examined. — Bruce E. Cummings 

 (Barnstaple). 



Weasels and Stoats hunting together. — I have never read of 

 Stoats and Weasels consorting together when in pursuit of prey, 

 and therefore the following account, observed closely by two eye- 

 witnesses, may prove of interest : — On June 14th this year (1910), 

 as my wife and I were sitting in the famous "Valley of the Rocks," 

 Lynton, North Devon, we saw a mixed pack of about fifteen Stoats 

 and Weasels emerge from the loose stones and rocks covering one of 

 the hillsides. In their actions they reminded us very much of hounds 

 hot on the scent. With noses close to the ground they scampered 

 in all directions, pausing every now and again to raise themselves on 

 their hind legs to look around. I imitated as nearly as possible the 

 squeal of a Rabbit in distress, a trick taught me by a keeper to 

 "draw" Stoats. On hearing this both animals exhibited symptoms 

 of excitement, and rushed towards the direction of the sound ; but 

 on catching sight of our persons, which we were not able well 



