CHAPTER FIVE 



THE ZOOLOGY OF CAMBRIDGESHIRE 



Edited by A. D. Imms, f.r.s. 



(With contributions by M. D. Brindley, W. S. Bristowe, J. E. Collin, H. St J. K. 

 Donisthorpe, J. C. F. Fryer, A. D. Imms, G. J. Kerrich, A. G. Lowndes, 

 W. H. Thorpe, H. Watson, and H. E. Whiting) 



A MONG WRITINGS ON THE ZOOLOGY OF THE COUNTY, THE 



ZJk manuscript catalogue of insects, and related animals, which was 

 X JLcompiled by the Rev. L. Jenyns (afterwards Blomefield), deserves 

 first mention. Its author lived at Bottisham in the early part of the last 

 century and his observations were made prior to 1849. His list makes it 

 possible to ascertain, in a general way, what species have declined or 

 become extinct during the last century or so. The catalogue is kept in the 

 University Museum of Zoology. When the British Association visited 

 Cambridge in 1904, there was produced the Handbook to the Natural History 

 of Cambridgeshire (edited by J. E. Marr and A. E. Shipley). This has re- 

 mained the only general account of the zoology of Cambridgeshire. 



Between 1923 and 1932 there appeared The Natural History of Wicken 

 Fen, edited by Prof J. Stanley Gardiner. This work makes a notable 

 advance on previous knowledge of the zoology of the County. In 1934, 

 there came The Birds of Cambridgeshire, by D. Lack. Finally, the present 

 year will see the publication of the first volume of the Victoria County 

 History of Cambridgeshire which will contain the most up-to-date and 

 detailed account of the local fauna. ^ 



MAMMALIA 



The mammals are rather poorly represented in the County. The absence 

 of any large wooded areas is regarded as being one of the contributing 

 causes, while the reclaimed Fenland seems to be unsuitable for supporting 

 any considerable mammal population. Among the bats is included the 

 scarcest mammal of the County, viz. the mouse-ear bat [Myotis myotis). 

 A living specimen of this creature was recorded from Girton in 1888, 

 and was doubtless a wanderer from the continent. The whiskered bat 

 (M. mystacinus) and Natterer's bat (M. nattereri) are scarce, but apparently 

 resident, species. Among other species, Daubenton's bat (M. daubentoni), 



' I would like to acknowledge a general indebtedness to the Editor (Mr L. F. 

 Salzman) for allowing us to use material prepared for the Victoria County History oJ_ 

 Cambridgeshire. 



