MAMMALS 
In compiling the record of mammals the same difficulty has been 
experienced as in the case of the vertebrata generally. With the excep- 
tion of a local list given by Davis in his History of Luton (1855), there 
is no trace of any other work upon the subject. A work of a century 
ago would now be invaluable for reference to many species already exter- 
minated, whose local history has all but passed away. Unfortunately 
there seems to be no one resident in the county who has specially 
studied the local mammalia, and this accounts for the omission of many 
little known mammals from this list. During the past century the 
marten and the black rat have disappeared, and the polecat may now also 
be considered extinct in the county. Amongst those species as yet un- 
recorded within Bedfordshire, and which would in all probability on 
careful investigation be found, are the lesser shrew (Sorex minutus) and 
several of the Cheiroptera. 
CHEIROPTERA 
1. Long-eared Bat. Plecotus auritus, Linn. 
Abundant. 
2. Barbastelle. Barbastella barbastellus, Schre- 
ber. 
Bell—Barbastellus daubentonii. 
Evidently uncommon, and personally I have 
never seen a local specimen. One was taken 
in 1868 in the bedroom of a house in the 
Clapham road, another a few years after was 
knocked down by a boy with his cap near 
Brickhill farm, and a third found dead in Fos- 
terhill Road in Bedford about the same year. 
The most recent was one picked up alive also 
in that road by Mr. A. Covington in August 
1901, which he retained for a time before 
liberating. 
3- Great or White’s Bat (Noctule). 
trellus noctula, Schreber. 
Bell—Scotophilus noctula. 
White—Vespertilio altivolans, 
Common, haunting more particularly the 
neighbourhood of our rivers and larger pools, 
where not infrequently they may be observed 
in company with swifts (Cypse/us apus), with 
which they seem equally adept when upon 
the wing at taking the Mayflies and other 
aquatic insects. At times I have observed 
this bat capture the larger beetles also. They 
Pipis- 
sleep in the holes of trees, frequently in 
colonies. On 3 August 1897 I took exactly 
fifty from an old beech tree at Warden Warren, 
and I have heard of about as many being taken 
in other localities. A matutinal flight seems 
often to be taken by this as well as some of 
the other species. 
4. Pipistrelle. Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Schre- 
ber. 
Bell—Scotophilus pipistrellus. 
Very common. They sleep in buildings, 
especially in churches, 
5. Daubenton’s Bat. 
Leisler. 
Bell—Vespertiio daubentonii. 
The first occurrence of this species recorded 
in the county is given in the Zoologist 1893, 
when two were obtained on g August from 
several flying by the river close to Cardington 
Mill. I have since observed this species in 
many other sheltered haunts along the Ouse 
and over the lake at Southill, 
6. Natterer’s Bat. Myotis nattereri, Leisler. 
Probably not very uncommon within the 
county, although seemingly local. It is first 
recorded in the Zoologist 1903, when several 
were observed during August in that year at 
Turvey and one obtained. 
Myotis 
daubentoni, 
138 
