A HISTORY OF SURREY 



bold flight it is known to most dwellers in 

 the country, and we have notes of its appear- 

 ance in a large number of localities. An 

 interesting account of a kestrel pursuing one 

 of these bats at Norbury appears in the 

 Zoologist, 1890, p. 107. Mr. H. W. Murray 

 has kept this species in captivity for some 

 time, but though it fed freely and drank 

 water from the hand, it was as a rule quite 

 savage, and bit in a very lively manner. It 

 may most frequently be seen circling round 

 the tops of high trees, from which habit is 

 derived its oldest trivial name ' altivolans.' 



6. Pipistrelle. Pipistrel/us pipistrellus, Schre- 



ber. 



Bell Scotophilus pipistrellus. 



This is of course the most abundant 

 species in the county, where it is very gener- 

 ally distributed. It is the least nocturnal of 

 the British bats in its habits, being frequently 

 noticed in the daytime. It is also sometimes 

 seen in winter, and has even been observed 

 in Surrey when snow was on the ground and 

 the temperature below freezing point (Zoologist, 

 1887, p. 69). 



7. Natterer's Bat. Myotis nattereri, Leisler. 



Bell Vespertilio nattereri. 



Mr. J. E. Harting, in his paper on the 

 distribution of this species in this country 

 (Zoologist, 1889), was unable to give any evi- 

 dence of its occurrence in Surrey, but thought 

 that very likely it had been overlooked. No 

 local published record is discoverable, but 

 Professor G. B. Buckton, F.R.S., informs us 

 that he has captured two specimens of this 

 bat at Greys Wood near Haslemere (in lit.). 

 Beyond this account we have no other note 



of its appearance in the county, but a careful 

 investigation would probably lead to its being 

 found in other localities. 



8. Daubenton's Bat. Myotis daubentonii, Leis- 



ler. 



Bell Vespertilio daubentonii. 



Although seldom specifically recorded from 

 the county, this species is, in our opinion, not 

 uncommon. Several local naturalists recog- 

 nize four species of bats which are identified 

 as the long-eared bat, the noctule, the pipis- 

 trelle, and a fourth which is probably Dau- 

 benton's. A large number (of which eight 

 were taken) were found in July, 1888, in a 

 hollow apple tree at Cranleigh. The species 

 was identified by the Rev. J. E. Kelsall, and 

 the occurrence recorded by him in the 

 Zoologist, 1889, p. 308, and by Mr. W. 

 JefFery, ibid. p. 450. 



This bat is usually seen in the neighbour- 

 hood of water, and we are quite confident 

 that it occurs in some numbers on the Mole 

 near Leatherhead. 



9. Whiskered Bat. Myotis mystacinus, Leisler. 



Bell Vespertilio mystactntu. 



We have been unable to discover any pub- 

 lished record of the occurrence of this bat in 

 Surrey. Mr. Robert F. Tomes informs us 

 that he has taken specimens in the under- 

 ground workings in the greensand near God- 

 stone, and that it is there not uncommon 

 (in lit.}. 



As it has occurred in all the neighbouring 

 counties, it is probable that a careful search 

 would discover it in other parts of Surrey ; 

 it is sometimes, doubtless, mistaken for its 

 common congener, the pipistrelle. 



INSECTIVORA 



10. Hedgehog. Erinaceus europ&us, Linn. 



Common in all the rural districts, but has 

 receded before the advance of the suburban 

 building. Mr. Reeves had a white specimen 

 which was killed near Reigate in 1894 (in lit.). 



11. Mole. Talpa europesa, Linn. 



Abundant nearly everywhere. Much sub- 

 ject to variations in colour, white, buff, orange, 

 grey, and even pinkish specimens being occa- 

 sionally met with. Mr. Reeves of Reigate 

 has a collection of twenty-seven colour freaks, 

 some of which are most striking. 



12. Common Shrew. Sorex araneus, Linn. 



A generally distributed and common resi- 

 dent. It is popularly recognized, owing to its 

 being at certain seasons of the year frequently 

 observed dead in the country roads. 



13. Pigmy Shrew. Sorex minutus, Pallas. 



Bell Sorex pygmeeus. 



According to Bell this little animal is found 

 all over England, but is rarely met with on 

 account of its nocturnal habits, being very 

 rarely seen in the daytime. It is the smallest 

 mammal known in Europe, being only 2^ 

 inches in length, including its tail which is 

 I inch long. We have taken its remains 

 (skull, etc.) from the castings of white owls at 

 Epsom. 



14. Water Shrew. Neomys fodiens, Pallas. 



Bell Crossopus fodiens. 



So few persons are aware of the existence 

 of this species that it has been found rather 

 difficult to gauge its distribution in Surrey 

 very accurately. Doubtless a careful watch 



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