MAMMALS. 



n 



Mustela erminea, Z. Stoat. 



Abundant, especially in the higher portions. 



The old Statistical Account includes Weem (vol. xii. p. 134, xvii. 

 p. 494), and says : " The fur is shorter than the skins brought from 

 Russia." 



In 1813 Don does not include it in his lists for the districts of 

 Strathmore. 



At the present time and regularly great numbers are destroyed, 

 and the vermin lists, as we have already seen, include many 

 thousands as paid for. On Ballinlick in ten years between 1893 

 and 1903, 243 were accounted for besides Weasels. 



Mustela putorius, Z. Polecat. 



The old Statistical Account includes Muthill (vol. v. p. 53), Weem (vol. 

 xii. p. 134), Killin (vol. xvii. p. 372), Dowally (vol. xx. p. 192). 



In 1813 Don speaks even at that time of the Polecat or Foumart 

 as rare in Angus, and only one had come under his personal notice. 

 " That one was near the old mill of Brathan, about four miles from 

 Brechin, and upwards of thirty years ago" (say about 1783). 



Now, none that I could hear of had been observed or heard of 

 anywhere in the Allan valley between Stirling and Perth since about 

 1860, but one was trapped at Leny in 1858 and one in 1855. 

 According to Col. Drummond Hay — our best authority in the 

 district — they were common in the Carse of Gowrie about 1820 or 

 1824, but had been extinct, or reckoned extinct, for many years 

 prior to 1881 or 1882. At Dupplin they are stated to have dis- 

 appeared since about 1855. At Doune Mr. Anderson writes: **In 

 all my trapping experiences I have only captured four. About 

 thirty years ago I caught one (say 1850) on Lord Moray's estate 

 above Doune." On Balquhidder (Forth) Mr. W. Dewar killed Pole- 

 cats about 1855. It was exterminated in Glen Queich above 

 Cumbree about 1850. Now, I have said that Polecats had long 

 been exterminated in the valley of the Allan between Stirling and 

 Perth, but on the slopes of the Ochils, facing to the north, they seem 

 to have lingered a little longer. None had been seen or heard of 

 upon the estate of Cloanden ^ (Tay) since Mr. Haldane purchased 

 the property about 1850; but on the estate of Kincardine, some 

 four miles from Cloanden, one was got about 1870. This was the 



^ Now called Gloan. 



