Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 1 (1843).djvu/372

344 swallows, too numerous for me to count, commenced an attack. Many were the turns and returns; many, but unsuccessful, the attempts to inflict a blow; the bat was evidently undaunted, though outnumbered and overpowered; and it was a considerable time before it was compelled to resign the elevated region to which it had so perseveringly aspired.—Jonathan Couch; Polperro, September 27, 1843.

Note on the Badger. That singular animal, the badger, is not uncommon with us, breeding in some of our coverts every season. About the month of March these animals begin to prepare the earths for the reception of their young, by collecting a great quantity of coarse moss, which they heap up in regular rows throughout the wood, and when thoroughly dried, carry it to their burrows. This singular practice, which, to my knowledge, has never been noticed by any author, is called by the country people the "badgers' hay-making." They breed twice in the year, bringing forth five or six young ones in each litter.—''Wm. Hewett; East Ilsley; October,'' 1843.

Note on the Otter. Otters, being much persecuted, are become scarce animals in these parts. Some years ago, one of these curious creatures laid up her young in an old pollard tree, situated close to the Thames, near Goring. This was a very secure place, for the tree was hollow throughout, so that the young were laid upon the bare ground, the old one approaching through one of the principal roots, which was completely hollow from extreme age. Secure however as was this retreat, the female otter and her young ones were captured and taken about as a show.—Id.

Note on the keen scent of the Stoat. I observe in your No. for July (Zool. 213), a notice of the keen scent of the stoat (Mustela Erminea) in pursuit of a hare. A few weeks ago, as I was walking along by the side of a large wood, I saw a rabbit come out of the wood, evidently in much trepidation, yet not making any great effort to escape. Upon seeing me, however, it darted across the road, and went under a gate in the opposite side. Suspecting from its manner the cause of its alarm, I stood still, and very soon saw a stoat following exactly upon the track of the rabbit. When it came to the spot where the rabbit had started forward upon seeing me, it lost the scent, and immediately tried up the side of the road, then in the opposite direction, and at last it crossed the road, very soon hit the scent, and went away at full speed, with its tail rather elevated, and I have no doubt very soon captured its prey, although the standing corn prevented my witnessing it. It is now some years since I was present at a scene that amused me very much. I was passing one end of a large barn, which was nearly full of corn, when my attention was drawn to a noise, as of some animal working its way up the boards in the inside of the barn. Very soon I saw a stoat appear at the loop (a name given to a space left in the boarding at the end of a barn, for the purpose of unloading the corn into it, and shutting when not in use, with a door, and generally placed at a considerable height, in this instance more than sixteen feet). The stoat descended without hesitation, falling upon the ground with some force, and escaped into a hedge close by. Almost immediately, another stoat appeared at the loop, and finding that its opponent had made its exit, likewise came down in a similar manner, and taking the scent of its predecessor, followed it and very soon overtook it, when a desperate battle took place, in which the first was overpowered, and with some difficulty got away. While this was going forward, a third stoat appeared at the loop, and after looking about for some time, retired into the barn. As it was early in the spring, I concluded that the two combatants were males, contending for the possession of the third, probably a female.—J. Atkinson; Layer Marney Rectory, near Kelvedon, Essex, August 18, 1843.