A HISTORY OF NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 



the smaller forms further research will perhaps lead to the discovery of 

 other species of bats besides those now recorded ; the pigmy shrew may 

 also yet be found to inhabit the county. 



CHEIROPTERA 



1. Greater Horseshoe Bat. Rhinolophus 



ferrum-equinum, Schreber. 

 Said by Sterland to have occurred in Sher- 

 wood Forest many years ago, and Mr. J. 

 Whitaker reports it from Rainworth. Fur- 

 ther confirmation is however required before 

 we can definitely claim this southern species 

 as a Notts bat. 



2. Lesser Horseshoe Bat. Rhinolophus hippo- 



sideros, Bechstein. 



Only known to occur in the county from 

 a specimen picked up dead some years ago at 

 Edwinstowe by Mr. J. R. Hardy of the Man- 

 chester Museum. 



3. Long-eared Bat. Plecotus auritus, Linn. 

 This appears to be one of our common 



species. I have seen specimens captured in 

 Nottingham, Mr. Whitaker reports it from 

 Rainworth, and it is said by Sterland to be 

 abundant in Sherwood Forest. 



4. Noctule or Great Bat. Piphtrellus noctula, 



Schreb. 



Bell Scotophilus noctula. 



This fine species is common about Not- 

 tingham, and is sometimes found hybernating 

 in numbers in the roofs of factories. 



5. Pipistrelle. Pipistrelluspipistrellus^chreber. 



Bell Scotophilus pipistrellus. 

 Recorded from several districts and prob- 

 ably common in the county, although few 

 specimens have actually come under my 

 notice. 



6. Natterer's Bat. Myotis nattereri, Kuhl. 



Bell Vespertilio nattereri. 

 A specimen was picked up dead at Grove 

 near Retford in June, 1888, by Mr. L. Buttress 

 (Zoologist, 1892, p. 144). 



INSECTIVORA 



7. Hedgehog. Erinaceus europteus, Linn. 

 Generally distributed and common in spite 



of the relentless persecution to which it is 

 subject at the hands of gamekeepers. 



8. Mole. Talpa europeea, Linn. 

 Abundant everywhere. A cream-coloured 



form occurs occasionally. 



9. Common Shrew. Sorex araneus, Linn. 

 Common in the Nottingham district, and 



would doubtless be found to be equally so 

 elsewhere if looked for. 



IO. Water Shrew. Neomys fodiens, Pallas. 



Bell Crosiopus fodiens. 



Apparently not common about Nottingham, 

 but has been seen at Colwick, Lenton and 

 Beeston. Mr. Whitaker says that it frequents 

 the Rainworth Water, but is rare. In north 

 Notts Mr. L. Buttress has taken it at Grove 

 and Headon, together with the variety formerly 

 distinguished as the oared shrew (N. remifer). 

 A specimen of the latter, killed at Annesley, 

 is in Mr. J. Whitaker's collection. 



CARNIVORA 



[Wild Cat. Felts catus, Linn. 



I have been unable to find any documentary 

 evidence of the occurrence of the wild cat in 

 Nottinghamshire, but as its remains occur in 

 both the Pleistocene and Recent deposits in 

 theCreswell caves on the borders of Sherwood 

 Forest, it doubtless once inhabited the dense 

 woods which formerly covered this region.] 



[Wolf. Cants lupus, Linn. 



Common in Sherwood Forest as late as the 

 fifteenth century at least.] 



11. Fox. fulpes vulpes, Linn. 



Bell Vulpes vulgaris. 



Common throughout the county owing to 

 its preservation for purposes of sport. 



12. Pine Marten. Mustela martes, Linn. 



Bell Martes abietum. 



The Rev. W. Becher of Wellow possesses 

 an example which was killed at Winkburn 

 near Southwell about 1850, and two specimens 

 in the Nottingham Museum were captured 

 on the Worksop Manor estate about 1872. 



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