2278 Quadrupeds. 



A Fauna of Melbourne. By John Joseph Briggs, Esq. 



The parish of Melbourne is situated in the southern division of the county of 

 Derby, about eight miles from the county town, and is 3463 acres in extent. The 

 surface has little to distinguish it from the neighbouring parts, being of that undu- 

 lating, quiet character — half pastoral, half arable — which marks the landscapes of 

 South Derbyshire. Our larger woods occupy about 150 acres, but the surface is 

 pleasingly varied with small copses, holmes, and hedgerow timber. Our small valleys 

 generally cradle some rivulet or stream, which, after watering the pasture lands, falls 

 into the Trent. This river forms the northern boundary, and winds, like some 

 gigantic serpent, through our meadows, and owing to its noble breadth is very at- 

 tractive to wild fowl. Altogether the surface of this parish is most favourable for the 

 study of Natural History, and the lover of the beautiful cannot but be delighted with 

 the rich scenery which is everywhere presented to his eye. Our fauna, however, is 

 much more limited than formerly, owing to the drainage of marsh lands, the grubbing 

 up of gorse and fern, and the closer trimming of hedgerows ; but still it is very ex- 

 tensive. The changes it has undergone will be noticed more particularly as the spe- 

 cies of animals to be described come under review. It will be necessary to state that 

 all individuals mentioned in the following list must be considered as having occurred 

 in this parish or on its borders, unless the contrary is distinctly pointed out, and that 

 the observations on their habits, manners and character, refer to them as observed 

 here. 



Pipistrelle (Vespertilio ). My journals record having noticed this bat 



flying about at mid-day on the following days, October 21st, 1843, and December 8th, 

 1843, being very cold; but I find that they come forth during every month in the 

 year, when the air is mild and genial and the wind south or south-west. The bats in 

 Melbourne Church bring out their young about June 17th. "April 14, 1844. — Bats 

 love to feed just on the verge of night. I have noticed one which has flitted about 

 every tolerably warm evening since last autumn. About the second week in Decem- 

 ber, when darkness came on about four o'clock, a. m., this animal appeared about 

 three o'clock. As the days lengthened he gradually made his appearance a little later, 

 and at the end of February five was his hour. Now (April 14th) the dusk falls about 

 eight, and he generally appears near seven o'clock. This I have ascertained by fre- 

 quently minuting him. The twilight seems his favourite hour ; and either the small 

 nocturnal insects upon which he feeds appear just at that point of time, or his vi- 

 sion is peculiarly adapted for the dubious light, for he is rarely seen abroad in open 

 day, and generally retires as the air grows darker." 



Long-eared Bat (Plecotus auritus). Seen occasionally. I have observed that 

 when feeding the range which they take in the air is more elevated than that of the 

 pipistrelle, and that they sweep down at intervals (probably strike at an insect) as a 

 falcon stoops to a bird. In winter they have been found huddled together, four or five 

 in a lump, in crevices of the old trees, in Calke and Donnington Parks ; and I was 

 once shown five individuals which had been taken from a barn-roof near Mickleover. 



Hedgehog (Erinaceus europceus). Hedgehogs lie dormant rather more than one- 

 fourth of the year, retiring the last week in November and appearing the first week in 

 March. When found in winter they are encased in a coat of dry leaves, about half 



