A HISTORY OF DERBYSHIRE 3. Noctule or Great Bat. Pipistrellus noctula (Schr.). Bell Scotophilus noctula. This fine bat is not uncommon in suitable localities, and in some of the well wooded districts is quite common. Owing to its large size and direct flight, it is easily distinguished on the wing from any of our other local species. Mr. Edwin Brown records a speci- men in his collection measuring 14^ inches in expanse of wing, and adds that as many as sixteen have been dislodged from one hole in a tree in Drakelow Park (Fauna of Burton, p. 85). Sir O. Mosley says that it is merely seen from April to July, but I have seen in- dividuals in the Dove valley as late as Septem- ber 19. Parks which contain old timber in the valleys of the Trent, Dove and Derwent are the most likely haunts for this species, which appears to be most numerous in the southern part of the county. That it is sometimes captured by owls is shown by the fact that Mr. L. E. Adams has detected the skull in pellets of the white owl (Strix flam- mea] from the Dove valley. Mr. G. H. Storer describes it as very intelligent, for a bat, in confinement ; his specimens soon became tame and confiding, and readily came when called. 4. Pipistrelle. Pipistrellus pipistrellus (Schr.). Bell Scotophilus pipistrellus. This is our commonest bat, and may be seen fluttering about in the twilight in mild weather at almost any time of the year. Even during the winter months, a spell of mild, moist weather will bring this bat out of its retirement. Mr. Edwin Brown describes a small, black variety or sub-species occurring at Burton (Fauna of Burton, p. 85). Individuals may sometimes be seen on the trunks of trees in broad daylight fast asleep, trusting to their insignificant size and colour- ing to escape detection. 5. Natterer's Bat. Myotis natter en (Kuhl.). Bell fespertilio nattereri. Mr. Edwin Brown, in his list of the mam- malia of Burton-on-Trent in the Natural History of Tutbury, says : ' One specimen was captured in the roof of Stapenhill House some years ago and is now in the Burton Museum.' No other specimens have been recorded since this was written in 1 863, but this is hardly to be wondered at considering the very small amount of attention which has been given to this group. 6. Daubenton's Bat. Myotis daubentoni(Leis.). Bell Vespertilio daubentmii. This species occurs in colonies at various spots in the valleys of the Trent, Dove and Derwent, and probably also in other parts of the county where still shady pools or reaches are to be found. Mr. E. Brown received a single specimen from Matlock, and Mr. C. Oldham (Zool. I ^97> P- S 2 ^) pointed out the fact that this bat is found in some numbers on the Dove near Uttoxeter. He has also observed it in smaller numbers on the ornamental waters at Buxton. In the Trent valley it is not com- mon, but Mr. G. H. Storer has met with it twice at Drakelow and also at the confluence of the Trent and Dove, near Newton Solney. It comes out rather late and flies low, and all observers notice that it is silent on the wing. 7. Whiskered Bat. Myotis mystacinus (Leisl.). Bell Vespertilio mystacinus. Individuals have been taken in various parts of the county, and it will probably prove to be distributed over the greater part of the district with the exception of the southern plain, where it appears to be decidedly scarce. Mr. C. Oldham (Zool. 1889, p. 68) records the capture of a male on New Year's day, 1889, in Lathkill Dale, near Bakewell : 'It was hanging asleep in a damp place, its fur being quite wet, in a tunnel connected with some disused lead mines.' Mr. Oldham also informs me that in 1895 he examined another which had been killed in broad daylight at Cromford ; also that it is very plentiful in the Goyt valley above Whaley Bridge. Here on three different occasions he has captured individuals flying at midday close to the river. In the adjoining counties of Cheshire and Staffordshire it is common. In the south, according to Mr. Storer, it has been taken once near Burton. INSECTIVORA 8. Hedgehog. Erinaceus europ<eus y Linn. Locally, Urchin (obs.). Generally distributed over the greater part Remains of the hedgehog have been found in some of our cave deposits (J. Ward, Journ. Derb. Arch, and Nat. Hist. Sac. 1893, p. 173). of the county where there is a sufficiency of In later times the name frequently occurs in cover, and in some districts very common. the old churchwardens' accounts, head money 152
