MAMMALS Northamptonshire from its wooded surface and the absence of coal and iron industries has been especially suitable for the preservation of wild animals. Though Rockingham Forest, which in the Middle Ages extended from the north of the county nearly as far as Northampton, has much diminished in size, yet in the large estates in the north of the county considerable patches of the original forest remain. The roe deer {Capreolus capreolus) and the wild cat [Felis catus) are now extinct in the county. The harvest mouse [Mus minufus) and the pine marten [Mustela martes) are in all probability extinct, though both species have been recorded within the memory of living men. Whether the old white cattle have or have not a claim to be considered indigenous, or even ever free from the control of man,' has long been a subject of discussion ; but it has been thought desirable to refer to their former preservation in the county. It may also be mentioned that the black rat {Mus rattus), the brown rat {Mus decumarms), the rabbit {Lepus cuniculus) and the fallow deer {Cervus damd) are to be regarded as introductions within historic times. The polecat {Putorius putorius) is now on the verge of extinction in this county, though apparently not uncommon forty years ago. There is no great probability of any further extension of the present list of species, though the occurrence of the lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hippo sider US') may yet be established. CHEIROPTERA 1. Long-eared Bat. P/eotus auritus, Linn. Xoologht for February, 1887, the late Lord This common species is exceedingly plenti- Lilford says : ' Although I have never been ful in the county. It may easily be recog- able hitherto to obtain the scrotine in North- nized by the length of its ears as it flits about, amptonshire, I feel certain that it occurs occa- sionally near Lilford ' ; and he maintained this 2. Barbastelle Bat. Barhastella barbastellus, opinion in conversation with me. While fish- Schreber. j,^g ^^ Castle Ashby in 1894, I watched a Bell — Barbastdlus daubentonu. strange bat, which I concluded to be this A rare and local species. The late Lord species. Lilford recorded a specimen which was ^^^^^ ^^ White's Bat (Noctule). PipU- brought al.ve to h.m from P.lton, near ^^^^^^^ „^^,„/^^ Schreber. Oundle m 1894 ; and he also told me m Bell-S../<,//5//«. noctuh. lOQD that he had two specimens from 1 itch- ,„, . . , . ■ j •_ ^ , r-u u This IS our largest native species, and its marsh Church. , , . ^ _ . ° , .• . » j •.. habit of flying in the daylight renders it more 3. Serotine Bat. Vespertilio serotinus, Schreber. familiar than many of the others. Lord Lil- Bell — Scotophilus serotinus. ford recorded it as ' inhabiting cavities in old This is also a rare and local species. In the trees.' I had a specimen brought me from » ' The Ch.irtley White Cattle,' Proc. North Staffs Field Club (January, 1 899), by Prof. W. Boyd Dawkins ; also The tflld fVhlle Cattle 0/ Great Britain, by John Storer. 129
