A HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE East Haddon Church, the roof of which forms the abode of a large colony. 5. Pipistrelle or Common Bat. Pipiitrellui pipistrellus, Schreber. Bell — Scotophilui pipistrcllus. This is universally distributed, and several specimens have been brought to me from different parts of the county. 6. Natterer's Bat. Myotis nattereri, Kuhl. Bell — Vespert'iiio nattereri. The late Lord Lilford remarks in the Zoo- logist for February, 1887, that this species is ' by no means uncommon in the neighbour- hood of Lilford.' 7. Daubenton's Bat. Myoth daubentoni, Leis- ler. Bell — yespertilio daubentonit. Bell records this from Milton Park, near Peterborough. 8. Whiskered Bat. Myoth mystacinus, Leis- ler. Bell — VespertUio mystacinus. This is a local bat, and the only records for the county that I know of are by Jenyns * and by Lord Lilford.* INSECTIVORA 9. Hedgehog. Erinaceus europieus, Linn. This is a common animal in the county, though Morton does not mention it. 10. Mole. Talpa europita^ Linn. Morton ' says : ' The mole too, which, as it is claw-footed, we may admit into this class, has been found of a snow-white in a ditch at Finshed.' Within the last few years orange-coloured specimens have occurred at Billing Lings, and a piebald one near Pres- ton Deanery. 11. Common Shrew. Sorex araneuSy Linn. This species is as common throughout the county as it is elsewhere, and forms the chief food of owls. 12. Pigmy Shrew. Sorex minutus, Pallas. Bell — Sorex pygmaus. This is the smallest British quadruped, and, with the exception of a still smaller shrew, the smallest belonging to Europe. I have never caught the little creature itself, but I have found its skull in owls' pellets from Weekley Hall Wood, Grendon Park and Pipwell Abbey, which are portions of the old Rockingham Forest. 13. Water Shrew. Neomys fodiem, Pallas. Bell — Crossopus fodiens. This pretty little animal is far from un- common. I have found dead specimens in various parts of the county, and also several skulls in owls' pellets. CARNIVORA 14. Wild Cat. Felii catusy Linn. Though the wild cat has long disappeared from this part of England, we have the fol- lowing interesting note by Morton : ' Many Years ago we had the Wild Cats in our North- amptonshire Woods. These from their way of living, which is catching Birds, on which chiefly they feed, are here called Birders. The Wild Cat, that however of Whittlewood Forest, is generally of a larger Size, and has a tail many Degrees bigger than the Tame. The Wild Cats differ also in Colour from the com- mon House-Cats. In their Wawling Noise, and other Properties, they agree with them, but their Skins seem to be tann'd, as it were, with the Sun and Weather they are so frequently expos'd to. I mean in respect of the Colour, which for the main is a dusky Red or Yellow, and that in all of them : whereas in the Tame
- Morton, The Natural History of Northampton-
shire (171 2), p. 445, par. 76. ones it is various and uncertain. The She Cats at Finshed, and the like Lone-Houses do sometimes wander into the Neighbouring Woods and are gibb'd by the Wild ones there. 'Tis a very difficult matter to tame the Wild Wood Cats, tho taken never so young into the House.' 15. Fox. Vulpci vulpeSy Linn. Bell — Vulpes vulgaris. The abundance of foxes in the county is too well known to require remark here, but a note from Morton may be interesting if not credited : ' The Fox. A Bitch-Fox that had been brought up tame at the Worshipful Ch. Tryon's of Bulwick, Esq., was wont to sport and play amongst the Dogs of his Pack, who though true Fox-hunters, treated her like one of their own Kind ; she was lin'd by one of
- Bell, British Quadrupeds, 2 edit., p. (>■].
' Harting, Zoologist, 1888, p. 163. 130
