222 QUADRUPEDS FOUND IN THE PARISH OF BODICOTE. 



satisfactory evidence of its occurrence. There is a great difficulty in 

 examining the Bats ; doubtless more species might be discovered. 



Order Cheiroptera. 

 Plecotus. 



Plecotus auritus, Geoffroy, (Long-eared Bat.) Fairly numerous, it 

 inhabits roofs of houses and old buildings, in company with the 

 common species. 

 Scotophilds. 



Scotophilia murinus, Gray, (Common Bat or Pipistrelle.) Very 

 numerous. I have seen them in January, in the daytime, when 

 the weather has been mild. 

 Scotophilus noctula, Gray, (Great Bat or Noctule.) Not at all com- 

 mon. This species flies high and straight, without the butterfly 

 twistings of the Pipistrelle. It continues out late in the season, 

 at which time it is very fat. 



Order Insectivora. 

 Erinaceds. 



Erinaceus Europceus, Linn., (Hedgehog.) Plentiful. It is here killed 

 for the sake of its fat, which is said to be a remedy for baldness. 

 Sorex. 



Sorex araneus, Auct., (Common Shrew or Erd Mouse.) Numerous. 

 I have once or twice observed a Shrew, which seems to be the one 

 described by Macgillivray as S. tetragonurus, but I am not sure 

 about it. 

 Sorex fodiens, Auct., (Water Shrew.) Mr. C. Matthew Prior informs 

 me that he has met with this species twice, and each time in a 

 running stream ; it is very rare. 

 Talpa. 



Talpa Europcea, Linn., (Mole.) Plentiful. Their numbers vary very 

 much according to the seasons. Dry weather is fatal to numbers 

 of them. 



Order Carnivora. 

 Mustela. 



Mustela putorius, Linn., (Polecat or Foumart.) Very rare. I have 

 heard of only one occurrence lately. This animal is far from shy 

 at times; I met with one whilst fishing in the Sorbrook a few 

 years ago, which, instead of running away, sat up on its hind 

 legs and " barked " at us. It was on the opposite side of the 

 stream, apparently hunting for rats. 

 Mustela erminea, Linn., (Stoat or Ermine,) and 

 Mustela vulgaris, Erxleb, (Weasel,) are both common. The latter is 

 often caught in traps set for moles. 

 Lutra. 



Lutra vulgaris, Erxleb, (Otter,) is still met with, but very rarely; the 

 last was in 1875. The year before, the otter hounds carried the 

 scent along the Sorbrook. 

 Volpes. 



Vulpes vulgaris, Briss., (Fox.) 



Order Rodentia. 

 Sciurus. 



Sciurus vulgaris, Linn., (Common or Red Squirrel.) May often be 

 seen, but exists in no great numbers. We have no woods. I have 

 once or twice met with it in the middle of the village. 

 Myoxus. 



Myoxus avellanarius, Desmar, (Dormouse.) I believe this has 

 occurred, but it is doubtful. It is very rare in the neighbourhood. 



