Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/293

Rh

Albinic Example of Long-eared Bat.— I have just found (May 3rd) what I venture to think is a rather unusual case of albinism in the shape of a white Bat (Plecotus auritus). When first seen it was nailed up in a barn, having been picked up dead by one of the farm lads. It is pure white, without the slightest suspicion of dark tinge. It was in a rather advanced stage of decomposition, and I omitted to examine the eyes. It has been sent for preservation to Mr. Chalkley, of Winchester.— (The Grange, Alresford, Hants).

Stoats turning White in Winter.—In answer to Mr. Barrett-Hamilton's enquiry on the above subject, I may say that during the past very mild winter I knew of five such specimens of Mustela erminea in this immediate neighbourhood, one of which was almost wholly white, except a little brown patch near each eye, and of course the usual black-tipped tail; in another specimen the top of the head was brown, and a thin brown line extended down the vertebrae from head to tail. My experience is that the head is the last portion of the body to assume the white colour; indeed, I have sometimes thought that the change must begin from the always white under parts, and gradually creep up the sides, as often the sides are quite white, whilst the back retains all the brown tint of the summer coat, the latter seeming to be invaded irregularly by the winter pelage, the line between the two colours being ill-defined and obscure. I have never seen a specimen with a light back and dark sides, though such may occur; but I have frequently noticed that the so-called white parts are often tinged with yellow. How is the change effected? Not by a new coat, for that would necessitate two apparent "moults" in a year, and one of these at a very inconvenient season, but by a gradual change of colour, for it is certain the hair is as firmly fixed in the skin during the change as it is at any other time. If we get a Squirrel with white hairs in its tail or other parts of its body, we find they easily drop out; but of course the two cases are different, and the carnivora and rodent widely separated in their constitution and habits. With regard to the Stoat, the question may be asked