MO CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE BRITISH FAUNA. 



of Lightfoot, this shrew is mentioned as being an 

 inhabitant of Scotland and the islands. He says it 

 is the Lavellan of some places ; supposed to be 

 noxious to cattle." In his British Zoology, however, 

 he expresses himself with somewhat less confidence. 

 When speaking of this animal, he says, " I ima- 

 gine it to be the same that the inhabitants of Su- 

 therland call the Water-Mole, and those of Cath- 

 ness the Lavellan ; which, the last imagine, poisons 

 their cattle, and is held by them in great abhor- 

 rence." 



It appears from Sibbald's description of the 

 lavellan of Caithness, that Pennant has perhaps re- 

 ferred it too hastily to the species now under con- 

 sideration. Lavellan, (he says), animal in Catha- 

 nesia frequens, in aquis degit, capite mustelcE syl- 

 mstri simile, ejusdemque coloris hestia est. (Sco- 

 tia ill. p. il.) Noxious properties are ascribed to 

 it. Halitu bestiis nocet, remedium autem est si 

 de aqua bibant in qua ejus caput coctum sit." 

 The head of the Vv^ater-shrew is by no means si- 

 milar to the weasel, ( Mustela vulgaris L.) ; nei- 

 ther is it a beast of the same colour. What then 

 is the Lavellan of Caithness ? Should it be con- 

 sidered as the Water Shrew ? 



The late Dr Walker appears to have been un- 

 acquainted with this animal as an inhabitant of 

 Scotland, as no place is assigned to it in his Mam- 

 malia Scotica, lately published in his posthumous 

 volume of Essays. — (Communicated 5th Decem- 

 ber 1812.) 



