1905. | ON THE MAMMALS OF CRETE. old 
4, On the Mammals of Crete. By DororHEea M. A. BATE*. 
( Received September 6, 1905. | 
The following list of the wild mammals known to inhabit Crete 
is based on a small collection made in the island during a stay of 
four and a half months in the earlier part of last year (1904) 
This includes only sixteen species, but it is quite possible that a 
species of Crocidwra may have to be added to the number, for 
remains of a Shrew were found in more than one Pleistocene 
cave-deposit in the western part of the island, and it is not 
unlikely that it may yet survive. It is probable that a Roedeer 
still existed in the island during the earliest historical times. 
Four species seem to be here recorded for the first time from this 
locality ; these are Rhinolophus ferrum-equinum, R. hipposideros, 
Micromys sylwaticus hayi, and Acomys dimudiatus minous. 
In his work on Crete ¢ published in 1869, M. V. Raulin gives 
a list of thirteen species, amongst which is included the Polecat as 
well as the Beech-Marten and Weasel; however, no specimens 
appear to have been obtained, so that their occurrence may have 
been admitted on insufficient evidence or as the result of some 
confusion with regard to the other members of the group. 
Admiral Spratt t, in describing the country between Kremopoli 
and Palaikastro, mentions that Foxes occur there; but this was 
doubtless a slip, for elsewhere (vol. ii. p. 157), in reference to the 
safety of the flocks of sheep, he says that ‘ Crete has no wild 
animals but badger and weasels or martens.” Dr, Lorenz- 
Liburnau has written at some length on the Wild Goat of Crete ; 
and in 1903 Major Barrett-Hamilton described the Hare, and 
noticed the Badger and Beech-Marten, at the same time remark- 
ing on the paleness of the specimens from this locality. The 
same may be said of the Cretan Hedgehog and Rabbit, but is not 
the case with the Weasel and Spiny Mouse, which are both richly 
coloured forms. 
Crete has, in all probability, been isolated as an island for a 
considerable period, therefore it is not surprising to find that 
there are a number of localised forms amongst the Mammalia. 
Admiral Spratt, whose valuable researches were carried on in so 
many parts of the Mediterranean, was of opinion § that Crete was 
connected in earlier times with Europe (including Asia Minor), 
and not with the north coast of Africa as tradition would have 
us suppose ||. Suess §[ would also seem to link this island rather 
with the northern than the southern boundaries of the Medi- 
terranean, The mammalian fauna, as well as the recent land- 
* Communicated by OLrprreLp THomas, F.Z.S. 
+ Description Physique de I’ Ile de Créte, 2 vols., Paris, 1869. 
£ Travels and Researches in Crete, 2 vols., London, 1868 (vol. 1. p. 205). 
§ Op. cit. vol. 11. pp. 408-10. 
|| Ibid. pp. 278-9. 
© la Face de la Terre, vol. 11. p. 713. 
