THE MAMMALS OF 
THE ASHBOURNE DISTRICT OF DERBYSHIRE. 
LIONEL E. ADAMS, B.A., 
Northampton; Hon Treasurer of the Conchological Society. 
IN response to a request from my friend Mr. Roebuck for 
some information about the indigenous mammals of this district, 
I have much pleasure in giving the result of my work here during 
the last few years. 
The district to which the following notes refer extends from the 
foot of the limestone hills which end abruptly (as far as Derbyshire 
is concerned) at Thorpe Cloud, for some ten miles over the new 
Red Sandstone and Bunter tract which extends over Staffordshire. 
This particular portion is an extremely picturesque range of hills, 
mostly pasture land, but often diversified by parks, woods, and 
spinneys, and faces the Weaver Hills across the Dove. The 
Derbyshire hills diminish at Norbury and cease altogether at 
Doveridge, near Uttoxeter. 
My notes, however, are not strictly confined to the — 
side of the Dove, but now and then trespass on 
Mr. J. R. B. Masefield’s district, here and there supplementing pes 
careful paper, ‘The Existing Indigenous Mammals of North 
Staffordshire,’ published in the proceedings of the North Stafford- 
shire Naturalists’ Field Club. 
I have taken Clifton as the centre of operations, and it will 
be seen that this spot is pArHCH sty rich in the lesser mammals, 
especially my favourites—the ‘ mice.’ The lanes round Clifton have 
high banks on either side topped with hedges, reminding one of 
those in Devonshire ; and it is these banks, which are simply honey- 
combed with ‘runs,’ that I have made a special hunting-ground. 
Of Bats there are certainly three species common in this neigh- 
bourhood. 
Long-eared Bat. Plecotus auritus. This unmistakable species 
I have often seen and also had in my possession. 
Great Bat. Vesperugo noctula, Often seen in the summer 
evenings; and Mr. Poole, a well-known naturalist of Ash- 
bourne, had one stuffed that he took close to Ashbourne 
a year or So ago. 
May 1895. 
