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THE MAMMALS OF THE BRISTOL DISTRICT. 
The Water Shrew. — Crossopus fodiens (Wagl.) 
Local, but not uncommon ; sometimes seen far from the water, as in 
Leigh Woods. Occurs in most of the streams, as the Froom at 
Frarnpton Cotterell, the Yeo at Nailsea, and theYrym at Westbury. 
In some specimens the under parts are dusky and shade gradually into 
the dark upper parts. 
CARNIVORA. 
The Fox. — Canis vulpes (Linn.) 
In those parts of the district where the Fox is preserved for sporting 
purposes it is plentiful. These animals were formerly destroyed as 
vermin : the Clifton Parish Accounts between the years 1720 and 1761 
hare several entries of 1/- having been paid for “killing a Fox.” 
The Polecat. — Mustela imtorius (Linn.) 
Almost extinct in the district, but a specimen still turns up 
occasionally ; one at Portbury, 1879-’80 ; one at Coalpit Heath, 1872 ; 
and a few others at long intervals since. A friend has mentioned his 
father’s seeing several of these animals together, hunting in a pack, 
during intensely cold weather near Fi-ampton Cotterell many years ago. 
Whether this was a case of migrating in company, or of hunting in a 
pack, we cannot now say, and the species is too rare now ever to be 
seen in packs ; but this habit has been recorded of the Stoat. 
The Stoat or Ermine. — Mustela erminea (Linn.) 
Fairly common. It is a curious fact that in this district specimens 
in almost white coat appear at the same time as brown coated ones ; 
for instance, one at Clevedon in January, 1892, and another three 
miles north of Bristol in February 1896, having but a trace of brown 
left — and this after exceptionally mild weather ! Others being seen 
during the same months and in the same localities in the ordinary 
brown coat ; the explanation seems to be that indigenous specimens do 
not turn white in winter, and that the white fellows are migrants from 
further north, where the species all turns white in winter. 
The Weasel. — Mustela vulgaris (Erxl.) 
Common throughout the district, and though sometimes destructive 
to game, yet a most useful little fellow who destroys an immense 
number of mice and voles. 
The Badger. — Meles tcixus (Bod.) 
Maintains its numbers in a few places, but it has disappeared from 
many of its old haunts. A captive female littered in February and 
had four young, blind and nearly naked. Parish Accounts shewing 
many entries of 1/- for killing a Badger prove that it was quite 
common at one time, even on our downs. 
