MAMMALS miles around Birmingham and consequently a considerable area in Warwickshire. Subsequently to the appearance of the above Mr. J. Steele Elliott printed a Vertebrate Fauna of Sutton Coldfield Park, which is of great interest, the locality, it may be observed, being quite a classical one with the zoologists of the midland counties. For the use of a copy of that work the writer is indebted to the kindness of Mr. J. Steele Elliott himself. CHEIROPTERA 1. Lesser Horse-shoe Bat. Rhinolophus hip- poiiderus, Bechstein. This is a local rather than a rare species. The writer has seen it in considerable num- bers in its diurnal retreats in the roof of the mansion at Ragley, and in smaller numbers near Stratford and Warwick, always in build- ings, either singly or in numbers. In no instance has the greater horse-shoe bat been noted as occurring in Warwick- shire, though it is reported in the Fauna and Flora of Gloucester as occurring in that county. 2. Long-eared Bat. Plecotus auritus, Linn. A common though not very numerous bat which frequents a great many localities in the county, and, whether when feeding after nightfall or in its diurnal retreat, appears to be solitary, though several are occasionally found near together. It takes its food, as the writer can affirm from personal observation, both on the wing and when at rest. It hovers in front of foliage and takes the in- sects which are resting on the leaves. 3. Barbastelle. Barbastella barbastellus, Schre- ber. Bell Barbastellus daubentonn. A solitary and by no means common species, which frequents several, perhaps many, localities in the county. The writer has obtained it at Alcester and also at Wei- ford and Weston on the Avon, which al- though in Gloucestershire are only removed from Warwickshire by two or three hundred paces. It has also been found in or near the town of Warwick. The place of retirement for the day is very varied, indeed almost any hole or crack, either in a building or tree, is suitable. 4. Great or White's Bat. Pipistrellus noctula, Schreber. Bell Scotophilus noctula. White Vespertilio altivolans. A common species in the valley Avon and indeed throughout the of the county, feeding largely on the cockchafer in the early part of the summer and other large species of Coleoptera at a later period. The crushing of their hard elytra in the process of mastication may be very distinctly heard on those evenings when the flight is not too high up. During the day this bat retires to holes in trees. 5. Pipistrelle. Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Schreber. Bell Scotophilus pipistrellus. A common but solitary species frequenting buildings and flitting to and fro in any shel- tered spot, either among the stems of trees or buildings, but never, so far as the writer has observed, amongst foliage. Any hole will serve its turn as a place of rest for the day, whether in a tree or building. 6. Natterer's Bat. Myotis nattereri, Kuhl. Bell fespertilio nattereri. A thoroughly gregarious species, at least so far as its diurnal retreat is concerned. Very local in its distribution, the only places in the county where it has been observed by the writer being at Arrow, near Alcester, where some years since there was quite a large colony in the roof of the church, and at Temple Grafton. At the latter place it was shot while on the wing in the evening, and a considerable number were noticed. 7. Daubenton's Bat. Myotts daubentoni, Leisler. Bell Vespertilh daubentonil. Common and frequenting water, especially that which is stagnant, close to the surface of which it flits ; but as it comes abroad rather late it is not easily observed. The writer has seen it on the Avon in many places in the county, as at Warwick, where it was numerous beneath and near the arches of the bridge as well as in close proximity to the castle ; also over the stagnant water near the railway station, formerly in the grounds of the priory. At Stratford it occurs in considerable num- bers, reposing during the day in the tower of the church, and at Bidford and Binton. It 209 27
