334 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



In all the examples of this beautiful animal which I have 

 seen, and unlike those noted by Mr. Forrest, the facial markings 

 were well shown, but owing to the lighter ground colour of the 

 animal the contrast was naturally not so great as in the common 

 dark Polecat. In the light type individuals of both sexes occur, 

 but, as in the case of the common Polecat, the males preponderate 

 slightly among the caught specimens. Mr. Hutchings believes 

 that, in one or two individuals, the irides were of a light brown 

 colour, but in the majority of cases they are dark like those of 

 the normal type. 



However this variety may have arisen, it is extremely improb- 

 able that it arose in more than one place, whence it has spread 

 to the several localities mentioned in the list. The relative 

 narrowness of the Coastal Plateau in North Cardiganshire has 

 been emphasised already, and in view of what we know of the 

 distribution of the light Polecat, it would seem to have originated 

 somewhere between Crosswood and Tregaron. Now Borth is 

 some miles north of these places, and it is unlikely that the 

 animal reached this place by way of the lowlands. It is far 

 more reasonable to suppose that it travelled thence along the 

 edge of the High Plateau, where it wo aid find sufficient food for 

 its needs. In this manner it may have contrived to establish 

 itself in fair numbers there, and thus the captured specimens 

 may represent mere strays to the lowlands. More records are- 

 required before the last hypothesis can be regarded as proven. 



While the lightness of colour may be an instance of semi- 

 albinism, yet in an order some of the members of which exhibit 

 such marked seasonal colour-changes, it may conceivably have 

 arisen in the Polecat through a change of environment or food^ 

 or other cause, and due to an upland habit. 



I have compared several skulls of the Ferret, Polecat, and 

 red-brown Polecat, and, apart from the fact that the Ferret's 

 skull appears to be somewhat less robust than the others, I can 

 find no marked difference. 



The Pine-Marten was believed to have long ceased to dwell in 

 North Cardiganshire, until a specimen was trapped (see list of 

 species) near Crosswood early in 1915. This record of an animal 

 of excessive rarity is again within the neighbourhood of Cross - 

 wood, and near the foot of the High Plateau, and it cannot be a 



