330 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Field-Vole, or Short-Tailed Field-Mouse {Microtus agres- 

 tis, Linn.)- — Common. Mr. F. Hutchings recently presented an 

 albino specimen to the U.C.W. Zoological Collection. It was 

 caught near Crosswood some years ago. 



Common Hare (Lepus europceus, Pallas). — Although generally 

 distributed, the Hare can scarcely be described as common in 

 North Cardiganshire. It occurs on Borth Bog, and it is present 

 on the High Plateau at greater elevations than those recorded 

 for the Babbit (q. v.). Mr. B. H. Dickinson says that the 

 upland Hares show more greyness of fur than do the valley 

 specimens. 



Babbit (Lepus cuniculas, Linn.). — The distribution of the 

 Babbit in North Cardiganshire is curiously uneven. The absence 

 of Babbits in certain places at a high level is due to the peaty 

 nature of the soil. It is more difficult to account for their 

 avoidance of some lowland tracts which are apparently suited to 

 their needs. In many parts of the district they are very abun- 

 dant. Melanism and other colour-differences are frequently 

 shown. A few Babbits occur as high as the Teifi Lakes (about 

 1300 ft.), and at the Angler's Betreat (1285 ft.), but these are 

 perhaps mere stragglers. Peat, rather than any inherent weak- 

 ness, or inability to withstand the more severe conditions of life 

 on the uplands, may be said to govern the distribution of the 

 Babbit in height, in this district at least. 



Lesser Rorqual (Balcenoptera acutoro strata, Lac). — A fresh 

 carcase of the Lesser Rorqual was washed ashore at the foot of 

 the cliffs between Aberystwyth and Clarach in tbe winter of 1911. 

 It was probably a male, and it measured 28 ft. " exclusive of the 

 jaw and tail," while its estimated weight was approximately 

 6 tons (Mr. Mortimer). 



Bottlb-Nose Whale (Hyperoodon restrains, Muller). — 

 Stranded (? dead) at Clarach, about 1902, this Whale measured 

 between 14 and 15 ft. The skull, which is unfortunately not 

 complete, is now in the Zoological Collection of the U.C.W., 

 Aberystwyth. I have not been able to discover any other infor- 

 mation about the cetacean, but Mr. Jack Edwards, who furnished 

 these details, also showed me a photograph of the specimen. 



Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena, Linn.). — Common in Cardigan 

 Bay during the summer. 



