MAMMALS. 
79 
111 Caithness the polecat was, according to Mr. Shearer, — 
as we see from the cuttings sent us by Mr. Eeid {John 
o' Groat Journal, 1871), — much more abundant than was 
generally supposed at that time. At present, Mr. Wm. 
Reid marks it as less common, and as " seen and got occa 
sionally only," and it is evidently a scarce species on the 
grouse muirs of Dunbeath, none appearing in the Vermin 
Lists between 1875 and 1881. 
27. Lutra vulgaris, Erxl. Otter. 
Much scarcer in the east of Sutherland from incessant per- 
secution. Erom 18.31 to 1834 premiums were paid for 263 
otters killed on the Sutherland estates alone. In Assynt 
and Durness only three are included between 1870 and 
1879 ; none between 1866 and 1880 on Glen Dhu farm 
or Eeay Forest,; but in Assynt, on Mr. Whitbread's 
shootings, twelve were killed by one trapper between 1869 
and 1880. We have no record of otters amongst vermin 
lists from Duiirobin ; but records of otters killed do not 
perhaps distinctly point out their distribution or comparative 
abundance in different districts, for we know they still 
frequent the Brora river and Lothbeg burn ; near the 
latter place, indeed, one was caught by rabbit-trappers on 
the Crakaig farm at the beginning of 1884; and we our- 
selves saw a fine one in Loch Brora on the 21st of February 
of the same year. 
In Caithness the otter is still not rare, frequenting both 
the cave-tunnelled coast and the several salmon rivers, 
occasionally visiting the inland lochs, and breeding 
not uncommonly, according to Mr. Eeid, in the rocks 
near the breakwater at Wick harbour. Mr. Eeid writes 
further : — " A few years since, a nest of young ones was 
got in a hole in the back of our harbour, one of which 
was tamed. He was called Lc,o])olcL, and would follow his 
master, Allan M'Leod, anywhere. I accompanied both on 
