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NOTES AND QUERIES.
MAMMALIA.
CARNIVORA.
Stoats (Mustela erminea) turning White in Winter.—A few days before reading Mr. Barrett-Hamilton's note on this subject (ante, p. 122), my keeper told me that he had seen a white Stoat two or three times lately—that is, between the middle of February and the second week in March—in one of my coverts, but had not succeeded in procuring it. Yesterday (March 22nd) I saw several others, lately killed, some of which were almost all white, and some brown and white, in the shop of Mr. Travis, Bury St. Edmunds, who informed me that, notwithstanding the exceptionally mild winter, he had received more white Stoats this season for preservation than usual. There has been no snow worth mentioning in this neighbourhood the whole winter, and it is evident therefore that they turn white in mild as well as in severe winters, a fact I was not aware of before. It seems curious also that such a small percentage of them turn white. One would imagine that if some changed colour all would do so, but that certainly is not the case, as most of the Stoats observed in the eastern and southern counties of England, so far as my experience goes, do not undergo this change; and, although many are killed here all through the winter, it is seldom we get a white or even partially white one. If I do get one I will certainly forward it to the Natural History Museum, South Kensington, as requested.—E.A. Butler (Brettenham Park, Ipswich).
Stoats turning White in Winter.—In reply to Mr. Barrett-Hamilton's query re Stoats turning white during the recent mild winter, I may state that I had one brought to me on Dec. 17th last, which was a very good white colour all over, excepting the top of the head, which was of the normal hue. The tip of the tail was, as usual, black. I noticed that the white hairs were longer and thicker than the brown ones, a peculiarity which I have noticed before in other specimens.—W.G. Clarke (44, Huntriss Row, Scarborough).
AVES.
Water Pipit in Carnarvonshire.—On Dec. 3rd, 1897, I observed two Pipits feeding on a piece of mud on the Carnarvonshire side of the river Glaslyn. While examining them with my glass they both rose, one flying out of sight, the other alighting on an alder bush close by, from which I
