Clare Island Survey. 



17 

 MAMMALIA. 



By G. E. H. BARRETT-HAMILTON, B.A., F.Z.S. 



Read Jirae 24. Published September 4, 1912. 



The present report deals with the Mammalian fauna of Clare Island, the Cetacea 

 being excluded. The Mammals of Clare Island do not appear to have been 

 investigated until 1904, when R. H. Bunting was sent to make a collection 

 there, as well as on Inishmore (Aran). His specimens are now in the British 

 Museum, and are included in the material on which this paper is based. 

 During the course of the recent Survey I visited the island in April, 1909, 

 and several other observers have favoured me witli notes. 



1. Pygmy Shrew. Sorcx minutus, Linnaeus. — Found all over the island. 

 I examined a nest which was placed under a flat slab of stone in a grass field. 

 There was a ball of cut, dried grass in a hollow nearly under the centre of the 

 stone, from which a passage led to the edge. Close by was a short hole about 

 two inches deep containing woodlice and a slug. This nest did not appear to 

 have been occupied since 1st March, on which date a man accidentally lifted 

 up the stone, when a number of shrews ran out. He thought the number at 

 least eight or nine, but there were too many to count them accurately. The 

 Pygmy Shrew is found also in Achill Island, whence Alexander Williams 

 sent specimens to the Dublin Museum. 



2. Bat, sp. ? Probably Pipistrelle, Pipistrcllus pipistrelhts (Schreber) 

 or Long-eared Bat, Plccotus auritus (Linnaeus). — I was informed that four 

 bats have been observed during the last ten or twelve years. 



3. Rabbit. Oryctolagus cuniculvs (Linnaeus). — Has been introduced and 

 appears to be now established, the numbers having been computed at between 

 fifty and one hundred. Some attempts at introduction appear to have failed, 

 but the present stock owes its presence to J. J. M'Cabe, who, in 1907, turned 

 out, near the lighthouse, six obtained from Murrisk, Co. Mayo. The animal 

 exists in small (and apparently shifting) colonies in various parts of the 



Jt.I.A. pboc., vol. xxxi. A 17 



