34 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF LEICESTER AND DISTRICT 
MaAmMMALs. 
The red deer and the fallow deer are still preserved in a semi- 
domesticated state in Bradgate Park and other parks in Leicestershire, 
but by reason of the breaking up of some of these old estates the herds 
have become more or less restricted. ‘The red deer in Bradgate Park are 
believed to be the descendants of the ancient herd. 
The badger is still fairly common throughout the county, particularly 
on the eastern side. ‘The otter, on the other hand, is a much-persecuted 
species and is rapidly decreasing in numbers. 
Leicestershire, with its vast acreage of grassland, provides the best 
fox-hunting in England, and it is solely due to the protection afforded to 
the fox for purposes of the chase that this beautiful mammal is still 
plentiful. 
The pine marten (Mustela martes L.) and the polecat (M. putorius) have 
long ceased to exist in any part of the county. The last recorded ap- 
pearance of the pine marten was at Bradgate in 1868. Of the small 
Carnivores, the stoat and weasel are still well represented, though the 
latter is by no means as common as the former. 
In spite of the persistent war that has been waged against the mole by 
professional mole-catchers, for the sake of its fur, there seems to be no 
decrease in the numbers and general distribution of this mammal. 
Though all three species of shrew are found in Leicestershire, the 
water shrew (Sorex fodiens) must be regarded as very rare. This interest- 
ing little mammal has been particularly searched for, and only two have 
been recorded during the past fifteen years. Both were noted during the 
prolonged drought experienced in the summer of 1930. It therefore 
seems reasonable to suggest that normally the brooks and streams of 
Leicestershire carry too much water to enable the water shrew to become 
established. 
The lesser or pygmy shrew (Sorex minutus L.) has never hitherto been 
mentioned in any previous record of the fauna of Leicestershire, but in 
1925 an example was found at Barkby Thorpe. Subsequent investigation 
has produced four more examples from other localities, proving the 
pygmy shrew to be an established species. ‘That it has long existed in 
the county but has been overlooked is almost certain. 
The common shrew (S. vulgaris L.) is plentiful in all parts. 
Of the fifteen species of bats listed as British, only seven have so far 
been recorded for Leicestershire. These are as follows : Barbastelle Bat 
(S. barbastellus), Long-eared Bat (P. auritus), Whiskered Bat (V. mysta- 
cinus), Daubenton’s Bat (V. daubentoni), Natterer’s Bat (V. nattereri), 
Common Bat (V. pipistrellus), and Noctule Bat (V. noctula). 
The red squirrel is not so frequently met with as formerly. Several 
examples of the grey squirrel have been seen or shot, but so far their 
numbers have not given cause for alarm. 
The dormouse (M. avellanarius L.) and the harvest mouse (MM. minutus) 
seem to have disappeared from the county. The former was doubtfully 
recorded previous to 1885, but there seems indisputable evidence that the 
harvest mouse was fairly common in the neighbourhood up to 1889. 
