A HISTORY OF RUTLAND one caught alive at Burley by C. Masters, no date ; one seen near Empingham by Mr. John Fowler about 1884; one killed at Market Overton about 1900 ; and one trapped near Ketton about 1897. 5. Stoat. Putorius ermineus, Linn. Bell — Mustek ermines. Common everywhere. Many specimens in ermine dress have been seen or shot in winter. One in Wardley Wood in 1888 ; a second at Bisbrook, 8 March, 1898 ; and a third in the same locality, 29 March, 1900. A very big white one was seen in Quaker's Spinney, Ridlington, 9 Februarj', 1901. 6. Weasel. Putorius nivalis, Linn. Bell — Mustek vulgaris. Very common. In Rutland as elsewhere the notion is prevalent that there are two varieties, one lighter in colour and much smaller than the other, the lesser one being denominated ' cane.' These are no doubt male and female. The Rev. Edward Bell records an instance of a weasel found coiled up at the bottom of a starling's nest 25 feet from the ground. A nearly white specimen was seen at Burley in December, 1897. 7. Badger. Mela meles, Linn. Bell — Meles taxus. Much more plentiful than is generally sup- posed. It breeds annually at Exton and Bur- ley and in many other localities throughout the county, such as Preston, Stoke Dry, Thorpe, Wardley, Gretton and the Stamford district. In I goo as many as twelve were dug out at Burley-on-the-Hill, and three earths were found at Thorpe and two old badgers with two cubs at Preston. In 1901 as many as thirteen badgers were found. Two fine males weighing 30 lb. and 40 lb. were killed. In the case of the Preston bad- gers a fox was found sharing the same earth with them. 8. Otter. Lutra lutra, Linn. Not at all infrequent on the Welland and Gwash, and found sometimes on the Chater and Eye ; also at the Burley and Exton ponds. One was killed by foxhounds on the Eye, 17 October, 1885, and a second there 19 December, 1888, which weighed 22^ lb. and measured 4 ft. I in. from nose to tip of tail. Two were killed on the Eye in 1 89 1, and one on the Chater in Decem- ber, 1895 ; another on the Welland near Caldecott in 1897. Three were murdered by a shepherd with the help of a pitchfork and his dog on the Gwash under the railway bridge near Ketton about 1890, and another was killed at Ketton in 1898 ; a third, weighing 24 lb., near the same place, 29 April, 1899, and a fourth of 25 lb. weight in 1901. The 'Bucks Otter Hounds' at the end of April, 1 900, killed on their first day at Ketton ; on their second day they found two bitches and five cubs, and killed an old dog otter of 30 lb. weight, while on the third day they found and killed close to Seaton station on the Welland. No doubt the excellent eels of the Rutland streams attract them, but trout (who would grudge them a few r) also pay toll, and I have found the head of a trout (about li lb. weight) on the banks of the Eye near Wardley Bridge, which had evidently been left by an otter. INSECTIVORA 9. Mole. Talpa europaa, Linn. Very plentiful. A beautiful variety, which seems to be constant, is found at Burley. A specimen now before me is of a golden white colour all over except the snout, the part be- tween the forepaws and a strip along the belly to the vent, these portions being red- dish gold. Nearly twenty moles of this sort were taken in 1901. 10. Common Shrew. Sorex araneus, Linn. Bell — Sorex vulgaris. Common, especially round Ketton. Not often seen except when found dead by the roadside in July and August. An unusual number appeared at Uppingham in 1900. Bones of this species are very often part of the pellets of barn owls. 11. Pigmy Shrew. Sorex minutus, Linn. Bell — Sorex pygmtrus. Has eluded direct observation, but certainly occurs, as its skulls have been found in the castings of the barn owl and wood owl at Ketton. 12. Water Shrew. Neomys fodiens, Pallas. Bell — Crossopus fodiens. Sparingly distributed. It occurs in the Eye brook, and I have twice seen it (19 May, 1898 ; 17 May, 1899) in the Bis- brook stream. 13. Hedgehog. Erinaceus europteus, Linn. Abundant, and has been observed near Uppingham in every month in the year ex- cept January. Young ones have been seen as early as 8 March (1898). 78
