23 
Barbastelle Bat* (Barbastellus dauhentonii) I once captured 
a single specimen under the bark of a pollard oak at Easton ; and 
am informed that it has been several times captured in the neigh- 
bourhood of Beccles. 
It would bo interesting to ascertain what other species of bat 
occur in Norfolk. 
Pine Marten (Mnrfeti ahiefum.) Beech Marten {Maries 
/ohm.) During the latter part of the last century “ Marten Cats” 
existed in Brooko Wood, as I was informed by an old woodman, 
now deceased, who was employed there in that ctapacity in his 
youth. 
If my recollection does not deceive me, the late Jehoshaphat 
Postle, Esq., of Colney, had in his collection a stuffed Norfolk 
specimen of the marten. 
It is probably impossible now to ascertain to Avhich of the two 
races of marten found in Great Brihiin those which formerly 
inhabited Norfolk belonged. 
Stoat fMustela crminea.) A gamekeeper at Northrepps 
having missed some pheasant’s eggs from a nest on the top of a 
bank next a plantation, watched the place, and observed a stoat 
take an egg out of the nest, and caiTy it without breaking it along 
the top of the bank to its hole sever<xl yards off ; the hole was dug 
out, and in it were found all the other missing eggs unbroken, 
except a slight puncture made by the stoat’s teeth in carrying them 
to its hole. 
The stoat is called “ lobster” in Norfolk — a name which, it has 
been suggested, may have been originally “ leapster,” and given to 
it from its habit of progressing by a succession of leaps or bounds. 
The stoat frequently becomes white in Norfolk during the winter 
months, as it always does in the Arctic regions. 
"^Veasel {Mustela vulgaris,) The difference of size in the sexes 
of this animal is very remarkable ; the females, which are much 
smaller than the males, are called “mouse-hunters” in Norfolk. 
A female weasel was once seen at Earlham in the act of attacking 
a half-grown rabbit, by biting it behind the oar ; both animals 
* 1 am indebted for valuable information respecting this and some other 
specie.s, of which 1 have availed myself, to tlie kindness of Mr. Crowfoot* 
of Beccles. 
