ty 
bo 
THE ZOOLOGIST. 
NOTES AND QUERIES. 
MAMMALIA. 
CARNIVORA. 
Polecat in Suffolk.—On Dec. 21st I received as a present a fine speci- 
men of Mustela putorius, kiiled a day or two previously in or near Milden- 
hall Fen, which is in the north-western corner of this county. The fur was 
in beautiful order, and when skinning and setting up the animal I was sur- 
prised at the almost entire absence of any unpleasant smell. In our 
neighbourhood these animals are now very rare, but they still exist in some 
numbers in the fen country, where the voles, frogs, and eels provide them 
with an abundance of prey. ‘The Zoologist ’ for 1888 (pp. 183, 221) con- 
tains some interesting information on the subject of Suffolk Polecats.— 
Juttan G. Tuck (Tostock Rectory, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk). 
RODENTIA. 
The Indian Hispid Hare (Lepus hispidus).—This somewhat rare and 
but little known rodent is fairly plentiful in the Dooars, along the base of the 
Bhootan Hills, and I have seen them near the banks of the Brahmapootra 
river below Dhoobri. Its general colour is dark or iron grey, with an un- 
browned ruddy tinge. Limbs and body shaded externally with black, the 
tail rubescent both above and below; the inner fur short, soft, downy, of 
an ashy hue; the outer longer, hispid, harsh, and bristly, some of the 
hairs annulated, black and yellow-brown, others pure black and longer, the 
wholly black hairs more abundant than the lighter ones. The ears are very 
short and broad. Length: head and body, 194 in.; tail, 23 in.; ear, 22 in. 
This curious Hare is of a very dark hue, of a heavy make, and Rabbit-like 
appearance, with small eyes, short and stout limbs, and short whiskers. It 
is often called the Black Rabbit at Dacca, and the shikaries declare that at 
times it burrows like the ordinary “ bunny.” It frequents jungly places, 
long grass, bamboos, &c., shunning observation, and, from its retired habits 
is very difficult to observe and obtain. The flesh is white. I generally 
shot one or two each trip that I made into the Dooars, and occasionally they 
were for sale in the bazaar in Dacca, having been trapped by native 
shikaries. The natives assert that it brings forth as many as six at birth. 
Like the Rabbit, when this Hare is shot its bladder should be emptied at 
