Page:VCH Leicestershire 1.djvu/196

 MAMMALS From its inland position and the absence of large tracts of moorland or forest, Leicestershire is naturally deficient in the larger mammals which occur in seaboard or wilder districts of Britain ; for although the red deer is found in the county it is in no sense fera naturae, but is confined in a few parks notably at Bradgate where it is of course quite tame. No trace of the wild cat has yet been discovered, although records of tame cats which are leading a wild life and have become savage are constantly occurring. The pine-marten has been extinct for forty or fifty years, and the pole- cat is no longer found. Badgers are, however, fairly common, and the otter is to be found occasionally in the Soar and other streams. Only seven of the British bats have occurred in the county, so that all specimens procured should be carefully examined for new or allied species. No authenticated record of the black rat exists, nor of the wild boar, which probably occurred here up to mediaeval times. CHEIROPTERA 1 . Long-eared Bat. Pkcotut auritus, Linn. Locally, Horned Bat. Resident, but unevenly distributed, therefore not common. Several have reached the Leicester Museum from various parts of the county, the last one in 1903, from the Victoria Road Church, Leicester. 2. Barbastelle. Barbastella barbastellus, Schreber. Bell Barbastellus daubentonn. Rare. The late Rev. A. Matthews showed me a specimen which I recognized as this curious little bat, procured at Gumley about 1876 ; this is the only record. 3. Noctule. Plpistreltus noctula, Schreber. 'Qe.ViScotophilus noctula. White FesfertiRo alti- volans. Locally, Great Bat, High-flier, Rat Bat. Resident and generally distributed. Harley re- marked that this species appeared to be most common in the vicinity of the town of Leicester, and was often observed on still summer evenings. The Rev. A. Matthews told me in March, 1885, that one broil- ing hot day in July, some years before, at mid-day, when the air was perfectly bright and clear, he observed swallows circling at an immense altitude, and above them, at a much higher elevation, four large bats, which he supposed to be of this species. 1 1 Although Gilbert White named thi bat alti-volaas, from thil very habit of feeding high in the air (see Letter 36 to Pennant), yet hi remarks did not apply to its doing this before the even- ing, and the observations of the late Rev. A. Matthews are, I believe, unparalleled in the history of this species. On 8 July, 1885, I shot one flying over the canal by St. Mary's mills, Aylestone, which fell into the water, and on examination I found it to be a female containing a naked foetus. I have seen it so late as October, but on I November, 1886, a fine specimen was brought to me, which had been shot by the canal at Aylestone, this being a very late date for its appear- ance, only paralleled, I believe, by Mr. Harting's date.' In June, 1887, I shot a male and a female by the mill at Aylestone. The latter specimen appearing gravid, I carefully opened it, and discovered two well- developed but naked foetus. I cannot find in any notice of this species that it is credited with having more than one young at a birth. 4. Pipistrelle. Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Schreber. Bell Scotophilus pipistrellus. Locally, Common Bat, Flitter-Mouse, Hat Bat. Resident and commonly distributed. Harley noticed that this species is often observed on the wing during the day, and remarked that in this it differs from the 'Great Bat.' I received twelve from Belvoir on 1 3 July, 1885, and have procured several at Aylestone, Kibworth, Broughton Astley, and various parts of the county, this species appearing indeed to be par excel- lence the ' common ' bat. Its strange name of ' hat ' bat, which is commonly applied, appears to be founded upon the childish rhyming invitation to come under the would-be captor's hat and be feasted upon bacon ! t Zool. 1887, p. 169. I 5 8