MAMMALS INSECTIVORA 7. Hedgehog. Erinaceus europaus, Linn. Fairly abundant generally, particularly in the northern half of the county. An albino female was taken in a trap at Wrest Park, Silsoe, in December 1878 [Field, also Zoolo-
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8. Mole. Talpa europaa, Linn. Very common. Varieties are occasionally obtained. One, orange-coloured, with a reddish stripe down the belly and a few black stripes across the back, was taken 1 7 February 1877 [Zoologist). Mr. A. Covington has also received three others of a pale fawn colour, one of which was trapped at Bromham ; and one of a uniform bright salmon colour which showed a delicate pink next the skin when the fur was blown aside. Pale silvery grey specimens have been received by him in some ten or more instances ; one at Goldington about 1 895, and two dingy white varieties from Stevington, as well as occasional pied varia- tions, but in the latter the spots and blotches were always restricted to the under parts. In addition to the mole being rather a favourite prey of the weasel I have not infre- quently found their remains either in the nest or among the pellets of the tawny owl. 9. Common Shrew. Sorex araneus, Linn. Locally, Hog Mouse. Very common generally. In many small spinneys during the spring months I have at times noticed considerable numbers together running about the undergrowth. 10. Water Shrew. Neomys fodiens, Pallas. Bell — Crossopus fodiens. Not very abundant and somewhat locally distributed. A favourite haunt is the stream flowing through the ' Green ' at Goldington ; it also occurs more or less commonly at Ravensden, Stagsden, Harrowden and Ren- hold. I once procured it at Biddenham near Kempston Mill. Mr. A. Covington refers to its being formerly abundant in the ditch along the Kimbolton road near Gipsy Lane, but having now entirely disappeared from that locality. One in his possession was taken by him in 1861 when a schoolboy in the old spring at Clapham. CARNIVORA 11. Fox. Vulpes vulpes, Linn. Bell — Vulpes vulgaris. Fairly abundant throughout the county, but its numbers naturally depend upon the protection afforded. The head keeper at Southill informed me that once during a very heavy thunderstorm, when the young pheasants were knocked off their roosting perches by the gale, he found as many as seventy-six that had been killed by foxes during the night. Mr. P. Addington assures me that in one instance he found a litter of no less than ten cubs. 12. Pine Marten. Mustek martes, Linn. Bell — Martes abietum. Locally, Marten Cat. During the early years of the last century the pine marten was still in evidence in our county, but was more particularly confined to the larger woodlands. A rapid extermination must have however followed soon afterwards, as records of a more recent date seem entirely absent, and at the present time I do not sup- pose there is any one living who has any local knowledge of the marten except from hearsay. Davis, in his History of Luton (1855), refers to it as 'rare,' and in his second edition (1874), 'almost extinct,' whereas there seems little doubt that it had been exterminated even long before his first edition. Mr. A. Covington remarks that he has heard his uncle speak of having occasionally obtained it around his home at Bolnhurst, and his mother when a girl had a cape made of marten cat skins and a muff of polecat skins. The animals had been caught by her father and brother in the locality. The last two that he ever heard of were one trapped in a fir tree at Sandy, and of more recent date one seen by a Mr. RufF. It had been trapped at Keysoe Wood (then of far greater acreage than now) and sus- pended to a hazel in one of the ridings. He also adds that keepers generally used to sell the skins of both these and polecats to the furriers. In a conversation I had some years ago with an old keeper, named Franklin, he assured me his father once killed a marten cat at Haynes about 1840, and he had heard of it being obtained at Wootton. In the Field (1859) is to be found an interesting account of the capture in Odell Wood of a pine marten and four kittens by an old game- keeper in about the year 18 19. The old cat brought up the kittens successfully in con- finement, and although the mother was nevei 139
