UPPER NIDDERDALE AND ITS FAUNA. 



195 



MAMMALS. 



The mammalian fauna has been well worked out, and there are 

 not many local catalogues which can show a better list of bats, 

 one of which — the Lesser Horse-shoe Bat — here reaches its northern- 

 most limit in Britain. It would be of interest to confirm or dis- 

 prove the existence of the Harvest-mouse, and to study the 

 specific distinctions of the Shrews. The following notes refer to 

 30 species, of which about 25 may be taken as constituting the 

 present fauna. 



Lesser Horse-shoe Bat. Rhinolophus hipposideros. Two specimens 

 were at different times within three days taken in Smelthouse 

 Wood, near Pateley. 



Long-eared Bat. Plecotus auritus. A common species, occurring 

 throughout the district, from Darley to as high up the dale as 

 Lofthouse Common. Storey has found it under stones in the 

 quarries, and it is found beneath ivy in trees and old buildings ; 

 15 at one time at Dowgill. This species is a familiar one, and 

 regarded not only as a hybrid between a mouse and a bird, but 

 also as an omen of ill luck. 



Noctule. Vesperugo noctula. Occasionally about Bewerley Hall 

 and at Glasshouses, where a dozen were observed on one sum- 

 mer evening in 1885. Has been taken hybernating in winter. 



Pipistrelle. Vesperugo pipistrellus. Very common. In ivy, in 

 roofs ; many a score found at a time at Glasshouses. 



Natterer's Bat. Vespertilio nattereri. Occasionally found near 

 Pateley Bridge, Glasshouses, Gowthwaite Hall, &c. 



Whiskered Bat. Vespertilio mystacinus. Nearly as common as 

 the Pipistrelle, and occurs as high up the dale as Lofthouse. 



Hedgehog. Erinaceus europseus. Called ' Otchon' about Pateley, 

 pronounced 1 urchen ' lower down the dale. Common every- 

 where, and found as high as Angram and Greenhow Hill. 

 As elsewhere, this animal is vulgarly accused of sucking cows. 

 A friend of Storey's, upon whom reliance can be placed, 

 took a light one summer's night in a lane near Pateley, thought 

 he saw a rabbit, but found it was a Hedgehog, which was in a 

 a humble-bee's nest, the bees buzzing about. 



Mole. Talpa europsea. Local names : 1 Mowdy,' * Mowdywarp.' 

 Very common in the dale, and on Pateley Moor and Greenhow 

 Hill. White examples have already been recorded in the 

 Naturalist. 



Shrew. Sorex tetragontmis. Local name : 4 The Little Shrew 

 Mouse.' Common. 



July 1886. 



