CHAPTER I. 



QUADRUPEDS. 



ALTHOUGH the area included within the three 

 Hartings is very limited in extent, its richly wooded 

 uplands, picturesque hangers and fertile valley, abound 

 in natural productions ; and the enthusiastic naturalist 

 may here find ample scope for a life-long study of its 

 Fauna and Flora. Indeed the subject is so com- 

 prehensive, that we may well be excused if we confess 

 that we approach it with diffidence ; fortunately, how- 

 ever, the numerous publications specially devoted to 

 the several branches of Natural History are so easily 

 obtained now-a-days, that we feel relieved of the 

 necessity of attempting any formal description of the 

 different species that may come under our notice, or 

 of entering into the already published details of their 

 history. We propose, therefore, to indicate briefly, 

 some of the animals and plants which we know are to 

 be found here, and taking them in their natural order, 

 we shall introduce a few occasional remarks which 

 may occur to us, and which we hope may not be 

 deemed misplaced. 



We commence with the Mammalia, and first on the 

 list are the Bats ; our acquaintance with these remark- 

 able animals is however so imperfect, that although 

 the species may be more numerous with us than 

 might be supposed by a casual observer, we can 

 speak of three only, the Long-eared Bat {Plecotus 

 communis), the No'ctule (Noctilinea altivolans), and 

 the Barbastelle (Barbastellus communis). There may 

 be, as we have intimated, several other species, but we 

 profess to give those only which we have identified. 

 In the day time, their season of repose, we find them 



