MAMMALS them, and her own Whelps being taken away, she suckled a Litter of Puppies that had been put to her. And hereunto I may fitly add, that at Aston, in 1699, was a Bitch half a Beagle and a great Hunter of Rabbets, who notwithstanding suckled a Nest of young Rab- bets together with a Puppy of her own.' 16. Pine Marten. Muitela martei, Linn. Bell — Martes ab'ietum. Until June of 1896 I was afraid that there was no available record of this species in the county ; however, my good fortune made me acquainted with Mr. Tyrrel, an old man of eighty, who was bailiff and keeper at Pipwell Abbey till lately. I found him in his trim little garden on the estate, and quite willing to give me any information in his power.
- Yes, he knew the marten cat,' pointing to
a spinney close by, ' and he had killed one there fifty years ago, and had sent it to Carlton Hall.' 17. Polecat. Putorius putorius, hinn. Bell — Mustek putorius. This animal, if not extinct in the county, is on the verge of becoming so. I have, how- ever, several interesting records. Morton does not mention it, though it must have been far from rare in his time. The late Mr. R. Rogers of Castle Ashby, near Northampton, once wrote to me : ' I can remember hearing my grandfather relate the incidents of a most exciting chase which he and his men had after a fitchet at Round Hay Farm, Yardley Hast- ings. It had visited his poultry yards, killing several chickens. As near as I can remember the date would be about 1866-70. Some few years later, 1870—80, another polecat was seen near to Castle Ashby fish-ponds.' Mr. Bazeley of Horsemarket, Northampton, says his father told him that fifty years ago he saw a couple of polecats and young ones playing in a thicket at Pattishall. Mr. Tyrrel of Pipwell told me that the last that he knew of were two which he killed on the estate twenty-five years ago. One was caught alive on the Lilford estate in 1869. Mr. Tye of Northampton has in his possession the skull of a polecat that was given him some fifteen years ago by a keeper from Whittlebury Forest, but unfortunately details of exact locality are missing. Mr. C. E. Wright of Kettering has a record of one being killed about 1882, at Geddington Chase, by F. Wright, the gamekeeper. It was given to the late Mr. W. Lewen of Geddington. Mr. C. E. Wright also informs me that about 1882 he saw three or more polecats on a ' keeper's gallows ' at Boughton Park. In the Zoologist, August, 1891, there is a notice of a polecat having been killed at Aynhoe. Mr. W. Tomalin of Northamp- ton tells me that he saw a polecat at Elton, near Warmington, and found some young wood-pigeons killed by it in a nest in a tree. A trap was set, but without effect. Between 1850-54 Mr. Tomalin shot two polecats down the Houghton Brook, one of which, now stuffed, is in the Northampton Museum. It jumped out of an ash tree into the brook, where his fox terrier caught it and killed it. 18. Common Stoat. Putorius ermineus, Linn. Bell — Mustela erminea. Abundant. Mr. C. E. Wright of Ketter- ing has a pair of stuffed stoats all white ex- cept the ears and tips of the tails. They were seen hunting a water-rat at Barton Seagrave, and eventually caught it. They did not hesi- tate to take to the water (March 28th, 1894). Also the same keen observer records another couple all white, except the ears and tips of the tails, in Weekley Hall Wood. 1 9. Weasel. Putorius nivalis, Linn. Bell — Mustela vulgaris. This animal occurs plentifully in the county. It is rightly encouraged by intel- ligent farmers, as it does wonders in clearing the farms of rats and mice. 20. Badger. Meles meles, Linn. Bell — Meles ta.xus. Badgers are known to occur in many places, and are generally left undisturbed until ^hey fall under the suspicion of depredations, which should often be rather laid to the charge of the fox. Three years ago a very large one with two young ones was caught at Grendon. It was charged with worrying some lambs. At Billing Lings there used to be an ' earth.' There are said to be three pairs in Weekley Hall Wood and a pair in Grafton Wood. They were found to be very effective in destroying wasps' nests, and some of the young were sent to Buccleugh, in Scotland, to per- form the same office. They also occur in Har- Icston Firs, Wootton Park, Nobottle Wood, and probably in several other places. 21. Otter. Lutra lutra, Linn. Bell — Lutra vulgaris. Our rivers are so suitable for the otter, that in all probability the animal is more plentiful than is generally supposed. The numerous dead fish which are discovered with the shoulders eaten may probably be accounted for by them. One was killed (1896) in Brigstock Park. 131
