Peacock: Mammalia of Bottesford. 



? Daubenton's Bat. Myotis daubentonii Leisler. Another 

 species, which I believe to be this, I have seen hovering 

 over the pool of the water mill, and also on the pond at 

 Bottesford moors. I have never handled this species and 

 so cannot be sure. The Vicar has seen it too at the water 

 mill, but has never handled it either. 



There is yet another species at Bottesford which I have 

 both seen and handled, but of which I have kept no 

 specimens I regret to say. I identified it to be the 



? Reddish-Grey Bat (Myotis nattereri Kuhl) of some authors, 

 but am now not certain, as Mr. Caton Haigh thinks it 

 cannot be that species. I have seen it twice, and under 

 these circumstances. In 1890, at Yaddlethorpe there was 

 a window, still covered with lath and plaster, which had 

 not been re-opened since Pitt put on the window tax. 

 A portion of the plaster had given way at one corner, 

 leaving- a tiny hole opening to the outside air through which 

 the bats had entered. By the aid of a candle you could see 

 them gathered together in dozens against the glass, as they 

 hung to the rough lath and plaster. In 1896 we felled an 

 old ash tree just above the little 'sipe-well,' where the 

 Brigg road divides for Bottesford and Ashby. In a hollow 

 in the trunk there were about twenty of these Bats, and some 

 were killed by the tree falling. I also once saw this Bat in 

 a bird stuffer's shop ; I thought it was at Lincoln. I have 

 learned it was not there ; but I saw it somewhere. When 

 it turns up again we shall know what it is for certain. 



Hedgehog. Erinaceus europseus L. Found all over the 

 parish and district. From my own personal observation 

 I have no doubt they destroy a number of eggs, especially 

 of game birds. They even attack sitting- fowls in farm- 

 yards. At times they will eat carrion. I saw one visiting 

 a dead lamb left in the field. For three days it came at 

 dusk and made a meal from it. They will also attack dead 

 rabbits in traps. A nest was discovered in 1865 in the 

 upper portion of the manor garden, then hardly reclaimed 

 from woodland to which it is returning. The young ones 

 were only a few days old. Their spines were quite soft, 

 and they Could not curl up fully, but they could make 

 a spitting or hissing at intruders. On the following morn- 

 ing they were not in the nest. Could the old ones have 

 carried them away to a new home ? It is generally believed 



Naturalist, 



