Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 1 (1897).djvu/605

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Trapping Shrews and Voles.—I can fully endorse Mr. Pocock's remarks on the abundance of Microtus glareolus as regards my own county. I have trapped numbers of them, had many brought to me during haytime and harvest, and the cats often bring them into the house; but still, in districts that I have worked, M. agrestis is the preponderating species. Sorex minutus I have only succeeded in trapping once, though I am anxious to obtain specimens. S. araneus swarms, and Crossopus fodiens is common in suitable localities. Mus messorius I have never yet seen in the county. M. sylvaticus is ubiquitous, but though my friend Mr. James Backhouse and myself have examined a great number, we have not yet come upon the variety, as we consider it, M. flavicollis, though we are anxious to obtain a few specimens. Muscardinus avellanarius is very local.— M.A. (Chestnut House, Heworth, York).

Common Seal in the River Arun, Sussex.—In September last a Seal made its appearance off the mouth of the Arun at Littlehampton, and finally ascended the river above Arundel, at a distance of about seven miles from the sea. It was eventually shot, and whilst in the flesh I was afforded an opportunity of noting the following particulars. It was a male specimen of the Common Seal, Phoca vitulina, about three parts grown, measuring 3 feet 7 inches in length, girth 27 inches, front flapper 7 inches long, weight 40 lb., with the molar teeth placed obliquely, one of the characteristics of this species. With an acquaintance of the neighbourhood for over fifty years, this is, I believe, the first instance of such an occurrence; the animal, in this case, being no doubt attracted by the shoals of Bass which in the early autumn are taken here in considerable numbers. Within the last two seasons I have seen two brought on shore, both of them exceeding 12 lb. in weight—one caught on light roach tackle, after nearly an hour's tussle of a most exciting kind.— (Surrey House, Arundel).

Local Name of the Sheldrake.—Mr. C.B. Horsbrugh does not remember (ante, p. 508) seeing the name St. George's Duck in any book;