Smith : Lincolnshire Maniniah. 



47 



Dyke, Louth .... long- since known in England, but lost till May 

 1768, when it was discovered in the fens near Revesby Abbey . . . . 

 burrows in the banks near water and is called by the fen men the blind- 

 mouse.' 



Order CARNIVORA. > 

 Fam. FELID.^. 



Felis catus L. Wild Cat. It is scarcely probable that the Wild Cat is 

 now to be found in Lincolnshire. The last-recorded specimen is the 

 subject of an article in 'The Naturalist,' 1884, written by the late John 

 Cordeaux. This animal was shot in 1883 by Mr. Arthur Belton, near 

 Bullington Wood, Wrag-by. ' Cats have been known to breed there 

 in a wild state for g-enerations. There is, therefore, no improbability 

 that this Cat may have descended directly from the old British Wild 

 Cat. That it should be a reversion from the domestic race to the wild 

 type is scarcely probable, unless we are prepared to allow for a strong- 

 admixture of original blood coming- from pure wild ancestors which at 

 no distant pei-iod inhabited the district.' 



Fam. CANID.^:. 



Canis VULPES L. Fox. This animal is exceedingly well known in the 

 county, and is preserved in many places in the interest of sport. 



Fam. MUSTELID.^:. 



MUSTELA martes L. Pine Marten. Now very rare, but still exists in 

 some of the larg-e woods in Mid Lincolnshire. A fine specimen is 

 preserved in the Grimsby Museum presented by Mrs. C. S. Holg-ate. 



MusTEi.A VULGARIS Erxl. Weasel. Common. 



MusTELA ERMINEA L. Stoat. Common. 



Mustela putoria L. Polecat. Has decreased g-reatly during- the last 

 twenty-five years, but is still not uncommon in the coast marshes. 

 Evidences of its existence in the Grinuby district appear as late as 

 1887, and it no doubt is still to be found here. It appears to be common 

 about Mablethorpe. 



Meles taxus L. Badger. Gener^illy distributed throughout the county, 

 often attaining- a great size. Mr. J. E. Mason records one in 1890, 

 which took to the water, crossing- the river Eau into Withern Fen. 



Lutra vulgaris Erxl. Otter. Though not numerous, this species, 

 which is a great wanderer, is often turning- up in all parts of the county. 

 Records are to hand of two occurring- at New Holland, Five seen at 

 L^ffington Springs in 1889. One weig-hing- z\ lbs. was shot at Deeping- 

 St. James about the same time. It has also occurred at Louth, and 

 many times in the Grimsby district. One was taken in January of this 

 year (1904) at Hatcliffe Mill, and others have made their abode at 

 Newsham Lake. One trapped at Cadney in the Ancholme, where the 

 young- may be found all the year round. 



Fam. PHOCID^. 



Phoca vitulina L. Common Seal. Found occasionally all round tlie 

 coast but particularly in the Wash. On one occasion no fewer than 

 125 were counted on one sand, whilst in the water near there appeared 

 to be a like number. Quite a thousand are sometimes in the estuar}- at 

 one time. 



Phoca hispida Sch. Ringed Seal. ' It is stated by Mr. J. Cordeaux that 

 an example occurred on the Lincolnshire coast as recently as the year 

 1889.' Bowdler Sharpe. Lloyd's Nat. Hist., p. 155. Mammalia. 



Halichoerus grypus Fabr. Grey Seal, Has been killed off Tetncy 

 Haven and is occasionally met with in the Wash, 



1905 February r. 



