MAMMALS. 41 



exclusively, especially roofs of churches, and is sometimes 

 found in large numbers in such situations. The general 

 colour is light red above and whitish beneath, but the 

 basal part of each hair is dark brown. Total length 3^ 

 inches, of which the tail measures nearly half. 

 WHISKERED BAT. Mr. Chas. Oldham, of Sale, near 

 V. mystacinus. Manchester writes in the Zoologist 1890, 



p. 349, " In the beginning of June of 

 this year, about six p.m. one [of these Bats] was knocked 

 down with a stick in a garden at Hanwood, near Shrews- 

 bury." This is the only record for Shropshire. According 

 to Mr. Lyddekker "Essentially a solitary species, although 

 occasionally seen in small companies attracted by an 

 abundance of food, the Whiskered Bat appears to frequent 

 for the purposes of hibernation, either hollow trees, the 

 roofs of buildings, or caverns. It makes its appearance 

 early in the evening, and flies swiftly in a manner very 

 similar to the Pipistrelle. It often exhibits a preference 

 for the neighbourhood of water, over the surface of which 

 it skims." It is distinguished from other Bats by the 

 wing membrane starting from the base of the outer toe 

 and by the presence of long hairs on the face covering the 

 upper lip hence its name. Colour reddish-brown above 

 and greyish beneath. Total length nearly 3 inches. 

 HEDGEHOG, or Urchin. The Hedgehog, with his 

 Erinaceus fttropaus. armour of sharp spines, is so different 

 from all other British animals that it 

 is easily recognised by the least scientific observer, and 

 its method of defending itself, by coiling up into a ball 

 bristling with points, is familiar to all. Yet many curious 

 errors have passed current regarding its nature and 

 habits. For instance, it has been said to climb trees and 



