VERTEBRATE ANIMALS OF LEICESTERSHIRE,. 215 
distributed and common. I have received several from Knighton 
—close to the town of Leicester—where it breeds. On 13th 
September, 1883, an old female hedgehog and four young ones 
were brought to me from thence. Another one, caught also at 
Knighton, we endeavoured to keep. It remained for some time 
in the work-room at the Leicester Museum, hiding itself during 
the day under the box of a step leading from one room into 
another. Our porter, who was very kind to it, tells me that he 
saw it several times away from its retreat, but that it was not at 
all tame, although he constantly fed it with bread and milk. One 
day it came out while several of us were there, and the next day 
it ran around our feet squeaking and trying to nibble at our boots. 
It would not, however, eat bread and milk, so we procured meat, 
liver, apples, potatoes, carrots, anything we could think of, but it 
refused everything, though apparently very hungry. The next 
morning it was dead. 
Order CHIROPTERA. 
Plecotus auritus (Linn.). Long-eared Bat.—Generally dis- 
tributed and breeding. Harley writes :—‘‘ Widely diffused over the 
county. Partly gregarious. Plentifully found in Bradgate Park, 
where, no doubt, it finds shelter by day in the pollard oaks, ruins, 
crannies of rocks, and holes which abound there. Breeds in the 
county.” Mr. W.A. Vice, M.B., brought me a specimen procured 
by him at Blaby Mill about 1883. 
Synotus barbastellus, Blas. The Barbastelle-——Not common. 
The Rev. A. Matthews showed me one specimen of this curious 
little bat, procured at Gumley about 1876. 
Vesperugo pipistrellus, Blas. Pipistrelle; Common Bat; 
“ Flitter-mouse.’—Commonly diffused and breeding. I have 
procured several specimens at Aylestone, the last, a male and 
female, on 23rd April, 1885. Harley notices that this species is 
often observed on the wing during the day, and remarks that in 
this it differs from the Great Bat. 
Vesperugo noctula, Blas. Noctule, or Great Bat, or ‘“‘ Rat 
Bat.’—Generally distributed and breeding. Harley remarks that 
this species appears to be most common in the vicinity of the 
Town of Leicester, and is most often observed on still summer 
evenings. I have observed it once or twice each summer since 
1880, but last year (1884) so many were flying near the Aylestone 
