MAMMALS In compiling the record of mammals the same difficulty has been experienced as in the case of the vertebrata generally. With the excep- tion of a local list given by Davis in his History of Luton (1855), there is no trace of any other work upon the subject. A work of a century ago would now be invaluable for reference to many species already exter- minated, whose local history has all but passed away. Unfortunately there seems to be no one resident in the county who has specially studied the local mammalia, and this accounts for the omission of many little known mammals from this list. During the past century the marten and the black rat have disappeared, and the polecat may now also be considered extinct in the county. Amongst those species as yet un- recorded within Bedfordshire, and which would in all probability on careful investigation be found, are the lesser shrew (Sorex minutus) and several of the Cheiroptera. CHEIROPTERA 1. Long-eared Bat. Pleeotus auritus, Linn. Abundant. 2. Barbastelle. Barbastella barbastellus, Schre- ber. Bell — Barbastellus daubentonii. Evidently uncommon, and personally I have never seen a local specimen. One was taken in 1868 in the bedroom of a house in the Clapham road, another a few years after was knocked down by a boy with his cap near Brickhill farm, and a third found dead in Fos- terhill Road in Bedford about the same year. The most recent was one picked up alive also in that road by Mr. A. Covington in August 1 90 1, which he retained for a time before liberating. 3. Great or White's Bat (Noctule). Pipis- trellia noctula, Schreber. Bell — Scotophilia tioctula. White — Vapertilio altivolans. Common, haunting more particularly the neighbourhood of our rivers and larger pools, where not infrequently they may be observed in company with swifts (Cypselus apus), with which they seem equally adept when upon the wing at taking the Mayflies and other aquatic insects. At times I have observed this bat capture the larger beetles also. They sleep in the holes of trees, frequently in colonies. On 3 August 1897 I took exactly fifty from an old beech tree at Warden Warren, and I have heard of about as many being taken in other localities. A matutinal flight seems often to be taken by this as well as some of the other species. 4. Pipistrelle. Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Schre- ber. Bell — Scotophilia pipistrellus. Very common. They sleep in buildings, especially in churches. 5. Daubenton's Bat. Myoth daubentoni, Leisler. Bell — Vespertilio daubentonii. The first occurrence of this species recorded in the county is given in the Zoologist 1893, when two were obtained on 9 August from several flying by the river close to Cardington Mill. I have since observed this species in many other sheltered haunts along the Ouse and over the lake at Southill. 6. Natterer's Bat. Myoth nattereri, Leisler. Probably not very uncommon within the county, although seemingly local. It is first recorded in the Zoologist 1903, when several were observed during August in that year at Turvey and one obtained. 38
