49 

 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD. 



MR. EDITOR, The following remarks on the 

 Natural History of this neighbourhood are either the 

 results of my own experience or are inserted on credit- 

 able testimony. 



CLASS MAMMALIA, LlUU. 



ORDER PRIM A TES. 



Genus, Vespertilis, or the Bats. 



Sp. 1. Vesp. Murinus, vulgarly called Flitter Mouse, 

 and Ranny Mouse, is the species most common 

 about here. Great numbers of them pass the 

 day time in summer, and during winter hiber- 

 nate, in the holes of quarries, as at Catdown, 

 Oreston, &c., also in old buildings and out- 

 houses. I have been told that at Yealmpton, a 

 few winters ago, when an old lime kiln was being- 

 repaired, the workmen, in order to proceed, 

 removed from the delapidated parts of the fabric 

 some dozens of this and the following species, 

 which had crept into the crevices, no doubt, for 

 the sake of warmth. During the evenings of 

 summer we observe them in shady lanes, and 

 in situations least exposed, where they are liable 

 to fall in with their insect food. When flying 

 near old buildings they have the habit of repeat- 

 edly clinging for the moment to some projecting 

 part, and then renewing their flight. I believe 

 this is executed by the fore claws alone, whilst, 

 in order to sleep or hibernate, they invariably 

 suspend themselves by their hind claws ; and, 

 in fact, refuse to be placed in the opposite way : 

 I would suggest that this position may tend to 

 promote their torpidity or sleep, by the increased 

 flow of blood to the head. 



Sp. 2. Vesp. Auritus, or Long-eared Bat, is nearly as 

 frequent about Plymouth as the last named, has 

 received the same vulgar appellations, and has 

 similar habits ; excepting, perhaps, that it flies 

 in a rather higher medium. It any proof were 



