MAMMALS 



swync in the same untill the reigne of King Henry the Eight. About which time 

 they were destroied by John then Erie of Oxenford, for that he understode that the 

 inhabitants thereabout sustained by them very great loss and damage.' (Eisex Note 

 Boot and Suffolk Gleaner, Nov. 1885, p. 136.) 



The large estuaries which form so considerable a part of the shores 

 of Essex, and the numerous sand-banks and creeks, are traps for the capture 

 of a considerable number of marine mammals which from time to time 

 are stranded on their shores or become entangled amongst these banks. 

 The list of these accidental visitors is much above the average of most 

 of the maritime counties of England where such facilities for their 

 capture do not exist. Ten marine mammals, out of a total list of 

 twenty-seven recognized as British species, have been recorded for 

 Essex. These include the porpoise and the bottle-nose dolphin, both 

 of which may be seen frequently off this coast and may therefore count 

 as regular, not accidental, visitors. 



CHEIROPTERA 



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

 One of the commonest bats in Essex, and 



the one which is most frequently found enter- 

 ing open windows. Its haunts are usually 

 under the roofs of buildings ; sometimes, but 

 not so commonly, in hollow trees. 



2. Barbastelle. Barbastel/a barbattellus. 



Schreber. 



Bell Barbaitellui daubentmii. 

 This bat is not nearly so rare as it is 

 generally considered to be. Its habits and its 

 haunts in woods and hollow trees prevent 

 its coming so frequently under observation. 

 When seen it is usually flitting up and down 

 under the lee of a hedge or plantation, and 

 its size at this time causes it to be passed over 

 as a pipistrelle. 



3. Serotine. Vespertilio serotlnus, Schreber. 



Bell Scotophilus sentinus. 

 Twice only has this bat been captured in 

 Essex, on one occasion near Chelmsford by 

 Mr. Miller Christy. It must therefore be 

 very rare in Essex, a rather extraordinary 

 circumstance considering the number that 

 have been taken in the immediate vicinity of 

 the metropolis. 



4. Great Bat or Noctule. Pipistrellus noctula. 



Schreber. 



Bell Scotophllut noctula; White, l^eipertiKo 

 altivolani. 



This is a common bat throughout Essex, 

 but by its high-flying habits frequently eludes 

 observation. It has its home very frequently 

 in buildings but more commonly in hollow 

 trees, and is frequent in those within the town 

 of Colchester. White, in his account of this 

 bat, allowed it a very short period of activity, 



but in this district it has a similar period to 

 other bats and is very frequently to be seen 

 as late as the middle of November flying 

 through the streets of Colchester hardly above 

 the houses. It is also commonly to be seen 

 any autumn evening hunting for its prey low 

 down in the valley of the Colne. 



5. Pipistrelle. Pipistrellui pipiitrellus, Schreber. 



Bell Scotophilus pipiitrellut. 

 A common bat everywhere, resting in houses 

 or buildings as well as in hollow trees. 



6. Natterer's Bat. Myotis natter er't. Kuhl. 



Bell VeipertiRo nattereri. 

 One of the commonest bats in the Col- 

 chester district, and found frequently through- 

 out Essex. Cellars, caverns (as those under 

 Colchester Castle) and similar places, are 

 generally chosen as hibernacula. Crevices 

 in the brickwork of the deep wells in Col- 

 chester district would also appear to be fre- 

 quently selected for the same purpose, as in 

 the late autumn these bats are frequently 

 drawn up in buckets with the water. 



7. Daubenton's Bat. 

 Leisler. 



Myotis daubentoni. 



Bell fespertiRo daubentonli. 

 Is not rare throughout the county in suit- 

 able localities. It may often be found flying, 

 or rather flitting, over water, generally only a 

 short distance, sometimes a few inches, above 

 it. A small pond nicely sheltered appears 

 to be a sufficient hunting ground for a whole 

 evening. It is rarely seen except in the 

 neighbourhood of water. It chooses similar 

 positions for the winter to those selected by 

 Natterer's bat. 



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