The Mammals of the Edinhurgh or Forth Area. 387 



XXiy. The Mammals of the Ediribtirrjh or Forth Area. 

 Supplementary Notes. By William Evans, F.K.S.E. 



(Kead 27th November 1905.) 



In 1891 I submitted to the Eoyal Physical Society an 

 account of the Mammalian Fauna of this district/ which, 

 with some slight alterations and additions, was published 

 in book form in 1892. During the thirteen years that 

 have since elapsed, two species (the Whiskered Bat and 

 Eisso's Grampus) not included in my former list, and one 

 (the Harp Seal) then only doubtfully included, have been 

 recorded. Additional occurrences of a few of the rarer 

 residents and visitors, and further observations on some of 

 the common species, have also been noted. To bring these 

 records and notes together is the purpose of the present 

 communication. 



The number of species of mammals now positively known 

 to have occurred within the Forth area in the course of 

 the last hundred years is fifty. There is still the possibility 

 of one or two additions — an evasive bat, or a wandering 

 seal or cetacean — but at best they can be but few. Among 

 the recently described races or sub-species of certain mice 

 and voles, the yellow-breasted form of the Long-tailed Field- 

 Mouse {Mus sylvaticus wintoni) seems the only one at all 

 likely to be met with here. 



Much attention has lately been given to the critical study, 

 and the distribution of British Mammals, with the result 

 that there has been a corresponding growth of literature. 

 On the general subject two books — Handhook of British 

 Mammals, by Lydekker (1895), and British Mammals, by 

 Sir Harry Johnston (1903) — have been published, and Mr J. 

 G. Millais's monumental 3 -vol. work on British Mammals 

 is in course of publication. In the case of the two first- 

 named, apparently not much effort was made to give the 

 Scottish distribution down to date : it is otherwise, 

 however, with the last-named work; and we may expect 



1 Proceedings, VoL XI. pp. 85-17 L 

 VOL. XVI. 2 L 



