74 



THE ZOOLOGIST. 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



MA MM ALIA. 



Mammals of the Channel Islands. — Since the publication of my 

 Notes on the Mammals of the Channel Islands (Zool. 1908, p. 461), 

 Mr. Sinel tells me that the Bat doubtfully referred to Barbastellus 

 has been identified by Dr. Ticehurst, of Guy's Hospital, as a melanic 

 Pipistrelle. This makes only four known species for the Islands, 

 i. e. Pipistrelle, Serotine, Long-eared, and Greater Horseshoe — a very 

 small record when one considers the proximity of the Continental 

 species, and one which should arouse the local and visiting naturalists 

 to a closer search for the occurrence of other members of this inter- 

 esting order in such a favourable district. — R. H. Bunting (Natural 

 History Museum, South Kensington, S.W.). 



Correction. — On the last line but six of p. 449 (Zool. 1908), in 

 my "Fish Notes," I referred to Porpoise-hide, a statement which 

 several inquiries on my part have proved to be incorrect. Porpoises 

 were sold, and universally believed among the fish fraternity to be used 

 for making leather. In the leather trade poiyoise is an erroneous 

 term in use for the skin of the Beluga or White Whale, and in some 

 instances for specially prepared horse-hide. — A. H. Patterson (Great 

 Yarmouth). 



AVE S. 



Nightingale breeding in Shropshire. — Mr. A. H. Duncalfe (ante, 

 p. 29) asks for information as to the nesting of the Nightingale in this 

 county. It is ten years since I wrote the ' Fauna of Shropshire,' and 

 facts that have come to my knowledge during that period somewhat 

 modify the statements therein. The Nightingale is a regular summer 

 visitor to the country on both sides of the Severn from Bewdley up to 

 Buildwas, and especially frequents the small spinneys in the vicinity 

 of Linley and Broseley. Further to the north and west it is of 

 irregular occurrence, the limit of its range fluctuating from year to 

 year in a manner quite unaccountable. The year 1902 was especially 

 remarkable. At least six pairs took up breeding quarters in the 



