NOTES AND QUERIES. 151 



considering the vast difference in the surrounding conditions of 

 even North and South Britain, and considering also the 

 interesting and curious diversification of the several species 

 above described, we may reasonably conclude that five good 

 species probably represent the genus in this country, the 

 remainder being merely varieties. 



(To be continued.) 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



MAMMALIA. 



Mares and Foals versus Wolves. — When in the Asturias in 1885, 

 I was told of a very curious case of animal instinct, which may be worth 

 recording. Wolves are by no means infrequent in the Asturias, and often 

 attack the young foals which are sent up to pasturage with the mares in the 

 mountains. The experienced danger seems to have begotten a precautionary 

 instinct of a very intelligent kind. It is said that, on an alarm of Wolves, 

 the mares and foals congregate for mutual protection and common 

 defence. The mares form themselves into a sort of cordon, lieads outwards, 

 surrounding a space enclosing the young foals, and are ready for attacking 

 with their fore feet the Wolves on their approach. My informant gave me 

 a graphic account of such an attack, of which he was an eye-witness for 

 nearly an hour, and described to me how the Wolves circled round and 

 round the defenders, first at some distance, then gradually approaching 

 nearer and nearer, seeking an opening into the inclosure, till at last they 

 came within striking distance, and he saw one Wolf rolled over dead by a 

 blow from the fore foot of one of the mares. The fore foot is not 

 commonly used for defence by any equine species; but it is obvious 

 that the more powerful hind-leg blow would be of little service against the 

 spring of a Wolf from behind, without the directing eye to guide the 

 stroke. Of what a long experience must this mutual protection have 

 been the result! We can scarcely understand it, without councils of war 

 having been held, the dangers discussed, and signals for concerted action 

 arranged ; but now all this instinct may merely be the inheritance of 

 the experience of former generations. — George Maw (Benthall, Kenley, 

 Surrey) in ' Nature.' 



Natterer's Bat and the Barhastelle in Sussex. — It may interest 

 some of your readers to know that a specimen of VespertiUo nattereri was 

 taken near here in the early part of last year, and was brought to me. 

 I tried my best to keep it alive, but failed, as it refused all food. Last year 



