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ON THE FAUNA OF WOOL, NEAR WAREHAM, DORSET. 



BY J. E. DANIEL, ESQ. 



I FEAR it may appear presumptuous in one so ignorant of Natural History 

 to attempt to give a description of the Fauna of a district ; but my object is, 

 by drawing their attention to the subject, to induce others, who may be more 

 scientific, to give their observations to the world. And it seems to me, that 

 our mammalia are sadly neglected in comparison with other branches of 

 animated Nature ; and from the unceasing persecution to which many are 

 victims, especially among the larger species, it is to be feared that they may 

 become extinct, even as that most interesting animal, the Beaver, {Castor 

 fiber EuropcBus,) which was formerly an inhabitant of this island, as I believe 

 it still is of the banks of the Rhine, Rhone, and Danube. As regards the 

 genera " Vespertilio " and " Rhinolophus," I feel I have to apologize that my 

 list is so meagre ; but they appear to have received but a small share of the 

 attention which they so eminently deserve ; hitherto, I have only been able 

 to procure specimens of the two which I shall mention ; as regards all the 

 other animals, I have been careful to verify the facts before introducing 

 them to the notice of your readers, and trust they will excuse all errors of 

 omission and commission. In the aiTangement and nomenclature, I have 

 followed " Bell's British Quadrupeds," Van Voorst, 1837. 



Great Bat. (Vespertilio noctula.) Not very common; but during the even- 

 ings of the hot summer months, perhaps a dozen may be seen hawking about 

 the bridge which spans the river. 



Pipistrelle. {V. pipistrella.) This is very common, and is often brought to 

 me, taken out of holes, &c. I was much amused, one evening, watching 

 some hunting on the river; in fact, I frequently saw them skim the water in 

 their rapid flight. 



Hedgehog. [Erinaceus EuropcBus) Very abundant ; but unhappily every 

 boy considers this inoffensive and useful beast to be a fair butt on which to 

 exercise his inherent cruelty. Its food consisting almost entirely of slugs 

 and insects, although occasionally indulging in a slight vegetable diet. 



Mole, Want. [Talpa Europcea.) I have seen bushes hung with dozens of 

 their corpses ; and after the able articles in their defence, in The Naturalist, 

 I need say no more in their favour ; but I will take this opportunity of 

 stating, that at Frome, Somerset, I have seen many specimens of pure white, 

 up to a dull, deep yellow. 



Common Shrew. (Sorex tetragonurtis.) Often found dead, as neither cats 

 nor dogs will eat them, although most anxious to deal death to them. Do 

 the carnivorous birds eat them ? 



Water Shrew. {Sorex fodiens.) " This beautiful little creature," from the 

 localities which it inhabits — the banks of ditches and slow rivers — and from 

 its so readily and quietly gliding into the water, and there instantly diving 



