Manchester Memoirs, Vol. Iviii. (19 14), No. 9. 



IX. Faunal Survey of Rostherne Mere. 

 II. Vertebrata. 



By T. A. Coward, F.Z.S., RES. 



{Read March 24th, igi4. Received for publication March jist, igi4.) 



In considering the vertebrate fauna of a restricted 

 water area such as Rostherne Mere, one of two courses 

 could be followed : either to include all the species, in 

 addition to the fish, which occur within any given distance 

 of the bank, many of which may have no real connection 

 with the mere at all, or to restrict our attention to those 

 forms which are in one way or another actively influenced 

 by the presence of the water. We have chosen the latter 

 course, but have allowed ourselves considerable latitude 

 in estimating how the various species are influenced. 



Thus the Mammalian list is a small one, although 

 many purely terrestrial forms, whose habitat is close to 

 the margin of the mere, may use it regularly in their 

 search for water. They are not, however, specially 

 attracted to or by the mere ; a pond or streamlet would 

 serve their purpose just as well. 



Amongst the Birds again there must be many which, 

 passing from point to point, cross the mere, whilst others 

 may actually nest in trees which overhang the water — 

 their connection with the water is purely accidental. 

 They are but a portion of the large and varied avifauna 

 which inhabits the whole country round about the mere. 

 There are some which feed in the waterside trees, or even 

 in the more aquatic vegetation, but merely by chance, 



May 30, igi4. 



