1905.] ox THE MAMMALS OF CRETE. 315 



4. On the Mammals of Crete. 13y Dokothea M. A. Bate*. 



LKeceived September 6, 1905. J 



The following list of the wild mammals known to inhabit Crete 

 is based on a small collection made in the island dni'ing 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 Crocidura may have to be added to the number, for 

 remains of a Shrew were found in moi-e than one Pleistocene 

 cave-de]30sit in the western part of the island, and it is not 

 unlikely that it may yet survive. It is probable that a Roedeei- 

 still existed in the island during the eai-liest historical times. 

 Four species seem to be here recorded for the first time from this 

 locality ; these are RJiinolophus ferrum-equinum, R. hipposideros, 

 Microrays sylvaticus liayiy and Acomys dlmidiatus minoils. 



In his work on Crete t pviblished 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 occuri-ence may have 

 been admitted on insufficient evidence or as the result of some 

 confusion with regard to the other members of the group. 

 Admiiul Spratt J, in describing the countiy between Eremopoli 

 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- 

 Libvirnau 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 I'emark- 

 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 cai'ried on in so 

 many pai-ts 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 Ij. Suess^ would also seem to link this island rather 

 Avith the noi'thern than the southern boundaries of the Medi- 

 terranean, The mammalian fauna, as well as the recent land- 



* Communicated by Oldfield Thojias, P.Z.S. 

 t Description Plij'sique de I'lle de Crete, 2 vols., Paris, 1869. 

 X Travels and Researches in Crete, 2 vols., London, 1865 (vol. i. p. 205). 

 § Op. cit. vol. ii. pp. 408-10. 

 Ii Ibid. pp. 278-9. 

 ^ La Face de la Terre, vol. ii. p. 713. 



