142 ADAMS: MAMMALS OF ASHBOURNE, DERBYSHIRE. 
“here is a small short-eared species that I have not been 
able to handle a specimen of, but which I have often seen, and 
fished for with a fly-rod unsuccessfully, which I believe to be 
the common Vesperugo pipistrellus. 
There is a report that the Lesser Horseshoe Bat (RAinolophus 
hipposideros) occurs in Dovedale, but I have no knowledge of it. 
Hedgehog. Erinaceus europzus. Common in the neigh- 
bourhood. 
Mole. Talpa europza. We have this in abundance over the 
whole neighbourhood. A gardener that worked for us recently 
averred that it was true that ‘Moles were blind, but they had 
eyes in the soles of their feet!’ A curious and Irish-sounding 
notion which was entirely new to me. 
‘Common Shr ew. Sorex araneus. The most abundant 
mouse’ in the district to judge by the numbers caught in 
traps in hedge-banks, one and even, in winter, in our 
greenhouse. 
Lesser Shrew. Sorex minutus. A rarely met with and little 
known: species. I have been fortunate enough to capture 
three specimens—two in a spinney close to Clifton and one 
in our greenhouse. ‘The two in the spinney differed in colour 
considerably —one being nearly black, the other light mouse 
colour. In preparing the skulls I have been unable to use 
lime, as the base of the skull is largely membranaceous, but 
the results are all that can be desired. This species is very 
likely to be overlooked as the young of the former, but the 
length and thickness of the tail, which is closely covered with 
hair, distinguish it. A cross section of the tail is circular, while 
that of the former species is tetragonal. The nose is also more 
slender, and the teeth distinct 
‘Water Shrew. Crossopus fodiens. Has only once been 
' ton 
nearest water. Mr. Poole, of Ashbourne, tells me that the 
Vater Shrew is often found a long way from water, while 
the black variety (Oared Shrew) never is. This last I have 
never seen. 
Badger. Meles meles. Common in the woods round. Several 
have been found in Bradley Wood, Snelston, Shirley, and near 
Brailsford, quite recently. 
Otter. Lutra lutra. As to the occurrence of this I cannot 
obtain any precise information. Certainly of recent years none 
Naturalist, 
