122 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF BLACKPOOL AND DISTRICT 



at St. Michaels-on-Wyre, founded nearly fifty years ago by Mr. H. P. Hornby 

 to illustrate the history and natural history of the Fylde, contains many 

 specimens of local interest. 



In the more general survey which follows, it has been deemed advisable, 

 for considerations of space, to dispense with scientific names. As the classes 

 under review are familiar to the average reader, it is hoped that no inconvenience 

 will be caused thereby. 



Mammals. 



Although published records of osteological remains discovered in the county 

 are comparatively few, they are such as to show that Lancashire possessed an 

 interesting prehistoric fauna, including such animals as the Elephant, Lion and 

 Hyena, though these apparently had become extinct before man had arrived 

 in the county. The Urus, or Wild Ox, was obviously plentiful, for the largest 

 number of skulls and horns of this animal ever found in Britain were unearthed, 

 along with a large number of other mammalian remains, during the excavation 

 of the Preston dock in 1885. These numbered approximately 80. Curiously 

 enough none of these skulls bore any trace of injury, and it has been assumed, 

 therefore, that the animals were entombed at one and the same time as the 

 result of some prodigious storm. The configuration of the Ribble valley, as 

 pointed out by the late Johnathan Shortt, is such that it would only require a 

 comparatively slight obstruction to keep back for a time the river waters so as 

 to form an enormous reservoir to be poured forth as a devastating flood on the 

 removal of the barrier. 



During historic times vast tracts of unreclaimed forest-land existed at 

 Bowland, Rossendale and Pendle, affording for centuries an impenetrable 

 retreat for the Wolf and Wild Boar. The Wolf became extinct in England during 

 the reign of Henry VII. and one of its last strongholds was Bowland Forest. 

 Wild Boars are recorded at Hoghton Tower in 1617, at which time their range 

 probably extended north of the Ribble. The last herd of aboriginal Red Deer 

 was destroyed at Bowland in 1805. 



The existing mammals present few noteworthy features, and further research 

 is essential before we have an adequate knowledge of the local status of some 

 of the smaller species, especially of the Bats. 



Of the Insectivora, the Mole, Hedgehog and Common Shrew are frequent 

 and generally distributed ; the Lesser Shrew is met with sparingly, but, no 

 doubt, is often confused with the Common Shrew. 



The Chiroptera include four species, of which the commonest is the 

 Pipistrelle. The Noctule and Long-eared Bats occur, the latter with some 

 frequency. An example of the Whiskered Bat was caught at Lytham in 1888, 

 and the species is also recorded from Mytton on the Yorkshire border. 

 Daubenton's Bat probablv occurs, though (presumably) still unrecorded. 



As regards the local Carnovora, the Pine Marten has long been extinct ; 

 and what would appear to be the last local Polecat was killed in the Fylde 

 many years ago. The Stoat and Weasel abound and are universally distributed. 

 The Badger has forsaken its old haunts and appears to be extinct except as a 

 very occasional straggler from other parts. The Fox is found in small numbers 



