A HISTORY OF DERBYSHIRE 



3. Noctule or Great Bat. Pipistrellus noctula 



(Schr.). 



Bell Scotophilus noctula. 



This fine bat is not uncommon in suitable 

 localities, and in some of the well wooded 

 districts is quite common. Owing to its large 

 size and direct flight, it is easily distinguished 

 on the wing from any of our other local 

 species. Mr. Edwin Brown records a speci- 

 men in his collection measuring 14^ inches 

 in expanse of wing, and adds that as many as 

 sixteen have been dislodged from one hole in 

 a tree in Drakelow Park (Fauna of Burton, 

 p. 85). Sir O. Mosley says that it is merely 

 seen from April to July, but I have seen in- 

 dividuals in the Dove valley as late as Septem- 

 ber 19. Parks which contain old timber in 

 the valleys of the Trent, Dove and Derwent 

 are the most likely haunts for this species, 

 which appears to be most numerous in the 

 southern part of the county. That it is 

 sometimes captured by owls is shown by the 

 fact that Mr. L. E. Adams has detected the 

 skull in pellets of the white owl (Strix flam- 

 mea] from the Dove valley. Mr. G. H. Storer 

 describes it as very intelligent, for a bat, in 

 confinement ; his specimens soon became 

 tame and confiding, and readily came when 

 called. 



4. Pipistrelle. Pipistrellus pipistrellus (Schr.). 



Bell Scotophilus pipistrellus. 



This is our commonest bat, and may be 

 seen fluttering about in the twilight in mild 

 weather at almost any time of the year. Even 

 during the winter months, a spell of mild, 

 moist weather will bring this bat out of its 

 retirement. Mr. Edwin Brown describes a 

 small, black variety or sub-species occurring at 

 Burton (Fauna of Burton, p. 85). 



Individuals may sometimes be seen on the 

 trunks of trees in broad daylight fast asleep, 

 trusting to their insignificant size and colour- 

 ing to escape detection. 



5. Natterer's Bat. Myotis natter en (Kuhl.). 



Bell fespertilio nattereri. 

 Mr. Edwin Brown, in his list of the mam- 

 malia of Burton-on-Trent in the Natural 

 History of Tutbury, says : ' One specimen was 

 captured in the roof of Stapenhill House some 



years ago and is now in the Burton Museum.' 

 No other specimens have been recorded since 

 this was written in 1 863, but this is hardly to 

 be wondered at considering the very small 

 amount of attention which has been given to 

 this group. 



6. Daubenton's Bat. Myotis daubentoni(Leis\.). 



Bell Vespertilio daubentmii. 



This species occurs in colonies at various 

 spots in the valleys of the Trent, Dove and 

 Derwent, and probably also in other parts of 

 the county where still shady pools or reaches 

 are to be found. 



Mr. E. Brown received a single specimen 

 from Matlock, and Mr. C. Oldham (Zool. 

 I ^97> P- S 2 ^) pointed out the fact that this 

 bat is found in some numbers on the Dove 

 near Uttoxeter. He has also observed it in 

 smaller numbers on the ornamental waters at 

 Buxton. In the Trent valley it is not com- 

 mon, but Mr. G. H. Storer has met with it 

 twice at Drakelow and also at the confluence 

 of the Trent and Dove, near Newton Solney. 



It comes out rather late and flies low, and 

 all observers notice that it is silent on the 

 wing. 



7. Whiskered Bat. Myotis mystacinus (Leisl.). 



Bell Vespertilio mystacinus. 

 Individuals have been taken in various parts 

 of the county, and it will probably prove to 

 be distributed over the greater part of the 

 district with the exception of the southern 

 plain, where it appears to be decidedly scarce. 

 Mr. C. Oldham (Zool. 1889, p. 68) records 

 the capture of a male on New Year's day, 

 1889, in Lathkill Dale, near Bakewell : 'It 

 was hanging asleep in a damp place, its fur 

 being quite wet, in a tunnel connected with 

 some disused lead mines.' Mr. Oldham also 

 informs me that in 1895 he examined another 

 which had been killed in broad daylight at 

 Cromford ; also that it is very plentiful in the 

 Goyt valley above Whaley Bridge. Here 

 on three different occasions he has captured 

 individuals flying at midday close to the river. 

 In the adjoining counties of Cheshire and 

 Staffordshire it is common. In the south, 

 according to Mr. Storer, it has been taken 

 once near Burton. 



INSECTIVORA 



8. Hedgehog. Erinaceus europ<eus y Linn. 



Locally, Urchin (obs.). 

 Generally distributed over the greater part 



Remains of the hedgehog have been found 

 in some of our cave deposits (J. Ward, Journ. 

 Derb. Arch, and Nat. Hist. Sac. 1893, p. 173). 



of the county where there is a sufficiency of In later times the name frequently occurs in 

 cover, and in some districts very common. the old churchwardens' accounts, head money 



152 



