190 



THE NATITKALIST. 



fullest perfection the inner fur to a great extent is hidden by the glossy luxu- 

 riant outer hair, and he then appears a deep rich Vandyke brown ; but 

 in the snranier when he casts off his winter dress, the pale yellow of the 

 inner fur shines through the outer, and he then becomes very much lighter 

 in colour and much less handsome in appearance. Its fur is profuse and 

 ample, and forms a good protection against cold, with which even in the most 

 rigorous winter the animal seems but little affected. The food of the pole 

 , cat is extremely variable and is not confined to terrestrial game alone ; for it 

 will greedily devour frogs and toads; rabbits and hares, however, are its 

 staple diet, both of which it captures with impunity ; either by a stealthy 

 approach, as they remain at rest in their " forms" or by hunting them down 

 by scent. So indomitable and enduring is the polecat, and so acute and 

 unerring are its olfactory organs, that when it is ap.ce fairly on the scent of a 

 hare it never yields or gives up the pursuit, but follows its quarry with mar- 

 vellous precision throughout all its devious wanderings until it becomes exhausted 

 and falls an easy victim. It also preys on pheasants, partridges and other 

 ground roosting birds,- — a pair of polecats, male and female, will occasionally 

 consociate and act in concert in the pursuit of prey, evincing consummate 

 skill and cunning in their joint endeavours — a hare or rabbit thus pursued 

 will quickly abandon all attempts to escape, and will squat on the ground, 

 and remain on the spot as if transfixed to it by some peculiar fascination 

 awaiting in despair its inevitable doom," 1 have witnessed two instances of 

 this influence which the pole cat and a few others of its congeners are capable 

 of exercising over their prey. One in Chillingham Park and the other in 

 the immediate vicinity of Alnwick, and in both instances the animals were 

 killed. 



The pole cat is not by any means u.nprolific ; but produces as many as 

 five, and in some instances six young at a litter, which make their appear- 

 ance abroad usually in the beginning of June. The nest is formed in any 

 convenient but defensible hole or cranny — ^in the interstices of rocl^s, and 

 sometimes in deserted rabbit burrows, particularly those which are protected 

 by the gnarled roots of trees — it is composed of various soft leaves and moss 

 padded together with great minuteness and care, forming a warm and smooth 

 bed for the young. The female is very affectionate to her offspring and looks 

 after their necessities and weal until they become almost of adult size, and 

 possess the capabilities of their parents. In general appearance the pole cat 

 greatly resembles the pine martin, but is much less in size, never exceeding 

 two feet in length, and seldom weighing above twenty-eight ounces. 



Alnwickf Odohp.r, 1865^ 



