COMMON STOAT. 
7 
I am indebted to ]Mr. W. H. Thompson, of Beckenham, Kent, for a note of 
one possessed by Mr. Thos. Eowe, of Evington, which the latter informs me was 
caught in a trap in Swadborough Spinney in the winter of 1856-7, and is still in 
his possession. JMr. H. C. Woodcock, of Rearsby, told me of five killed out of one 
drain at Brentingby by the keeper, in 1847, and shewed me three mounted 
specimens, which he believes to have formed part of this company. Col. F. 
Palmer wrote me, in 1888: — “We used many years ago, say fifty, to have the 
Polecat in Owston Wood.” 
In Rutland. — The Right Honourable the Earl of Gainsborough informs me 
that one was shot at Exton about 1850. IMr. W. J. Horn, lately of “ The Views,” 
Uppingham, now of Peterborough, writes me (1888): — “One was killed on the 
farm of Mr. Wortley, at Ridlington, about thirty years ago,” and Mr. G. H, Finch, 
M.P., of Burley-on-the-Hill, kindly informs me of one which his keeper, Charles 
Masters, caught there alive about 1881, but, unfortunately, did not have preserved 
when it died. 
COMMON STOAT. Putorius ermineus (Linnoeus). 
“ Ermine.” 
Resident and generally distributed, breeding close to the town of Leicester. — 
Harley recounted how he once saw, in the northern part of the county, a Stoat 
chase a Squirrel, the latter, with great agility, ascending some steps leading over 
the wall into a park, leaping from thence to a branch of an oak-tree, and thus 
escaping from its pursuer, which could follow it no farther than the top of the 
wall. 
Mr. jMacaulay described to me a most exciting chase which he witnessed, and 
which ended in a singular manner. 1 give it in his own words : — “ On February 
16th, 1884, I was driving from Stonton to Tur Langton, in company with Mr, 
Miles J. Walker, when our attention was attracted by the scream of a Rabbit, 
a sound which — like the cry of a Hare — is never heard except the animal is in 
fear. Looking into the adjoining field we saw a Rabbit being coursed by a Stoat. 
The Rabbit was screaming with terror all the wLile it ran, and the Stoat was 
rapidly gaining ground. After going about a hundred and fifty yards the Stoat 
was within a yard of the Rabbit, when the latter suddenly stopped and squatted, 
and at the same time ceased to scream. The Stoat stopped also, but, instead of 
attacking the Rabbit, squatted also in front of, and face to face with it about a 
foot off, and there they remained motionless, the Rabbit apparently paralysed with 
fear. The occupier of the farm, who happened to be on the road, went into the 
field, and on his approach the Stoat ran off, whilst the Rabbit allowed him to pick 
it up, and he brought it to us and placed it in my carriage. The animal’s eyes 
were closed, the heart was palpitating most violently, and the breathing very 
rapid. It lay on its side for some minutes motionless, and I thought it would die. 
