MAMMALIAN FAUNA OF NORTH CARDIGANSHIRE. 325 



in the streets of Aberystwyth Town, where it is sometimes 

 carried by Dogs. I have sometimes heard its loud and plaintive 

 cry from a considerable distance, when it is terrified. Long 

 before dark, individuals may be seen crossing the roads, and 

 many of them are of large size. In the evening of Novem- 

 ber 16th, 1915, I caught a large Hedgehog in the roadway at 

 Penparke as it was running nimbly along. The day was a cold 

 one, and frequent and very heavy hail-showers were falling. 

 This cold spell had commenced some days previously. Hiber- 

 nation had probably commenced some time before this date, and 

 this individual was perhaps aroused through some unusual 

 event. 



Mole (Talpa europcea, Linn.). — Exceedingly common every- 

 where, even at a considerable height. Yellow-white specimens, 

 generally called albinos, are not infrequently taken. 



Common Shrew (Sorex aranens, Linn.). — Common in the 

 district (Salter and others). 



Water-Shrew (Neomys fodiens, Pall.). — Occurs in the 

 district. Mr. H. E. Dickinson has seen a specimen in a stream 

 at Ponterwyd (on the High Plateau). 



Wild Cat (Felis sylvestris, Schreb.). — Long extinct in the 

 district. I can find no records of the dates when the last local 

 specimens were killed. Feral Cats are not uncommon in the 

 preserved areas. I am convinced that the rare sight of the 

 Pine-Marten (see under " Pine-Marten " in list of species and 

 notes) gives rise to some of the stories sometimes current in the 

 district of the appearance of a " true Wild Cat." It is at all 

 events significant that the bushiness of the tail is very frequently 

 cited by the observers. 



Fox (Canis vulpes, Linn.). — Common in North Cardigan- 

 shire, where, owing to the nature of the country, it is hunted 

 with difficulty. Foxes are sometimes observed on the main 

 roads near Aberystwyth. A fine male, from near Llanfarian, 

 near Aberystwyth, measured over 47J in. from the tip of the 

 nose to the end of the tail, and turned the scale at eighteen 

 pounds. The years 1914-15 saw much depredation by Foxes in 

 the poultry-yards and sheep-folds in some parts of Cardigan- 

 shire. In fact, Foxes were so numerous and troublesome that 

 the farmers were compelled to organise regular "shoots" in 



