tTbc fiDammals of tbe Bristol 2>i6trict. 
By C. King Budge, L.R.C.P., M.R.C.S. (Bond.), and 
H. J. Charbonnier. 
rpHE district in which the species recorded in this list have been 
J. found, lies within the following boundaries : on the north, a line 
drawn eastward from the Severn, near Berkeley, through Dursley to 
the boundary of the County of Gloucestershire, near Badminton ; on 
the east, a line drawn from Badminton to Shepton Mallet ; on the 
south, from Shepton Mallet to Stert Point ; on the west, the coast line 
from Stert Point to Berkeley. This area is practically the same that 
was used for the list of Birds, and for the Flora of the Bristol Coal 
Fields, which have already appeared in our proceedings. 
The country within this area is of a very varied character, and in- 
cludes a long coast line, with rocks, mud-banks, and estuaries ; the 
hill-ranges of the Mendips and part of the Cotteswolds ; moors and 
downs, woods and valleys, and the whole district is well watered with 
rivers and streams. 
This list includes 37 species out of 63 recorded for Great Britain. 
Owing to the high state of cultivation and the absence of forests, 
the carnivora are naturally scarce, and rapidly becoming scarcer, 
owing to the constant war waged against them by the gamekeeper and 
poultry farmer; for instance, the Wild Cat and Pine Marten that used 
to occur in the district have not done so for nearly a century. 
The Bats are fairly well represented, 8 species out of 12 really 
British species ; there is no doubt that a more systematic search of the 
district would lead to the discovery of species not on the present list ; 
the “ Serotine,” Daubenton’s, and the “Hairy-armed” Bat, should more 
especially be looked for. 
Some of the species now found have been introduced from other 
countries, as the Black Rat, in the 15th century, the Brown Rat about 
1728. The Ship Rat, and the House Mouse. The Mammalia are a much 
neglected group, perhaps owing to the small number of species, and the 
fact that they are nearly all nocturnal in their habits, and difficult to 
observe ; but there are many points in their life histories which are 
still unknown and that would reward patient observation. 
The principal writers on the Mammals of the district are — 
Smith, “ History of the 100 of Berkeley ” (1600). 
Knapp’s “Journal of a Naturalist” (1838). 
Baker, Proc. Somerset Archl. and N.S. Society (1849-50). 
Farebrother, “History of Shepton Mallet” (1856). 
Charles Terry, “ Wright’s Guide to Bath ” (1864). 
Witchell, “ Fauna and Flora of Gloucestershire.” 
J. Compton, “ A Mendip Valley ” (1892). 
E. Wilson, B. Nat. Soc. Proceedings (1885). 
H. Percy Leonard, B. Nat. Soc. Proceedings (1891). 
