year. In this way I should estimate that from twelve to twenty "Marts" are killed annually in this neighbourhood; but, owing to the inaccessible spots in which their strongholds are situated, there does not seem to be much fear of their being exterminated just at present. The species is also common in North Wales.—W. Arthur Durnford (Barrow-in Furness).
Marten-cat in Scotland.—With regard to the distribution of the Marten-cat in Great Britain, I cannot say anything as to its haunts in England, but from what I have seen and heard in Scotland I believe it to be more numerous than is generally supposed. From my own experience I know that, were I to live much in certain parts of the Highlands, I should soon cease to regard either the Marten-cat or wild Cat as a prize. The latter is, of course, much more numerous than the former, and an occasional visit to the shop of Mr. McLeay, of Inverness (the well-known animal preserver), will soon convince one that it is positively common. Referring to the notes of my last trip to Inverness-shire and Ross-shire in 1871, I saw at the house of the keeper at Eilean-reach, near Glenelg, the skins of two Wild Cats and one Marten-cat, in addition to other "vermin." They had, of course, been killed upon the "shootings" of Eilean-reach. At Loch Hourn-head, not far from the above, I saw at the house of the head keeper, Angus Gillies, three Marten-cats' skins, also killed on his ground. During my stay at Shiel House, at the head of Loch Duich, I was assured that a former keeper (McDonald), whom I know, had trapped several Marten-cats in a wooded gully close to the Inn at Shiel House. The date of these captures I do not know: it must be many years ago. All the localities I have named are close to each other, and I believe that if wanted and looked after, many Marten-cats would still be found in that part of Inverness-shire which I visited in 1871. It is true we seldom see the Marten-cat in the shops of our bird and animal preservers in Scotland (Mr. McLeay's perhaps excepted). The reason is that when trapped it is soon flayed for the value of the skin, and never seen, possibly, by any one who would think it worth while to record its capture.—Edward Hargitt (10, Alexander Square, Brompton, S.W.).
Marten-cat in Scotland and Ireland.—When in Sutherland, in May, 1876, one of the keepers in Reay Forest told me he had, I think, fifteen Marten skins awaiting the visit of the furrier's traveller. Lord Kenmare's keeper at Killarney, last April, spoke of trapping them in that district as no uncommon thing, and mentioned 7s. 6d. as the usual price he got for his skins; in Sutherland I was told either 15s. or 20s. was the figure. In neither place did I see animals or skins. Wild Cats and Otters are frequently trapped in Reay.—H.M. Wallis (Reading).
Black Variety of the Brown Rat.—An adult female and two young of this variety of the Brown Rat, Mus decumanus, were taken early in May near Rottingdean, in this county. The fur is softer and the colour of a bluer black than that of the true Black Rat, Mus rattus; and it is also
