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MAMMALS states that in March 1901 badgers had an earth at Tingrith, his keeper having seen a badger in the woods a week previously. In the spring of 1891 a mother with young was dug out of an earth at Harrold ; the female was preserved and is in the possession of Mr. A. Covington, who had received one a few years previously from Carlton. A young one about six weeks old was sent to him from Harrold in 1890, and two others some three months old and another young one from the same neighbourhood in 1899. In 1895 a female that had been obtained at Ampthill was also preserved by Covington, and he mentions that in the ' sixties ' two live cubs were brought to his shop that had been taken in the south of the county. A male weighing 18 lb. was trapped 26 October 1899 on Rowney Warren, and a female weighing 19 lb. on 19 April 1900 at Sutton Park. 17. Otter. Lutra lutra, Linn. Bell — Lutra vulgaris. The otter is by no means as rare in this county as is generally supposed, and probably more plentiful than formerly. It occurs throughout the whole course of the Ouse and the Ivel, and though the animal itself is not often seen its tracks are to be found on the land adjoining these streams. In one of Mr. J. King's meadows at Langford there is a track which has been constantly used for years. This track cuts off a bend of the river and possesses a curious feature in that the banks at either end have never shown any trace of scoring. Mr. King assures me that he has seen otters leap upon the bank from the im- petus gained in swimming. This may account for the difficulty experienced in trapping this animal. Mr. A. Covington states that he has mounted upwards of twenty otters that have been obtained locally, and Mr. J. S. Wright more than a dozen. A former water keeper at Biggleswade informed me that he had trapped and shot seven in that neighbour- hood. The following records form but a small proportion of the full list which might be given if dates and other particulars had in all cases been preserved : A male otter weighing 26 lb. was shot at Milton Mill 17 April 1837 {Beacon and Beds Mercury). A young dog otter killed at its holt near Stev- ington church, and afterwards a female by Mr. Reeve's hounds 18 May 1837 {Beds Mercury). On 28 December 1878 three young, apparenly less than a fortnight old, found in a nest of sedge and rushes in the reed beds near Castle Mill {Zoologist). A female, weight 16 lb., trapped in the Ivel at Sandy 23 October i8j<) {Field). An adult killed, weighing 21 lb., at Biggleswade 29 July 1883 {Field). One about a third grown, killed at Langford 17 December 1883, and an old male in the same locality I April 1885. At Beeston one of 24 lb. weight was shot 25 December 1885 {Field). A male was shot at Langford 19 January 1 886, another 26 September 1887, and others 18 December 1893 and 28 May 1895. An old one and a young killed at Bromham Hall on the same day in 1890. In January 1886 one of three young, about four weeks old, was killed at Odell ; and at the same place in February 1895 three young were found together on an old wooden bridge, evidently having been dis- lodged by the floods. A male weighing 30 lb. obtained at Shefford 1894. Two young ones, taken below Bromham Bridge 1894, were reared by hand. An adult shot 10 February 1895 on the island adjoining Bed- ford old baths, and two days later two young ones, about three weeks old, were taken from under the boards at the back of the bathing sheds. A female shot, and two of three young taken from a bed of rushes on the canalized barge-way near Cardington 30 October 1898. Three half grown otters were seen by the writer 24 December 1900 on the islands near Roxton Bridge, and on 26 December one of about the same size was flushed on the Ouse at Blunham. During January 1902 one was frequently seen disporting itself in the even- ing in the river close to Bedford Bridge. On 24 January a male was caught and released again at Biddenham. In the same and follow- ing year during the months of June several were seen by the writer between Little Bar- ford and Great Barford. In the latter locality I found a much used holt, a large hole in the brickwork of the sluice at Old Mills some 1 8 inches above the usual water level. It con- tained a quantity of dry rushes, and the edges of brickwork were considerably polished by the pads of the animals. Dr. Sprigge mentions that some young found at Great Barford were suckled by a cat. The writer has come across specimens with yellowish buff spots and blotches on the under parts. RODENTIA [8. Squirrel. Sciurus leucourus, Kerr Bell — Sciurus vulgaris. lore or less and well-timbered parks, and very common in the larger fir plantations. A variety in my abundant in the woodlands possession obtained in November 1894 at 141