A hand-book to the British mammalia

Preface

The Author, in his Preface, has exhausted the material for an introductory notice to this little work, for the scope of which I must refer the reader to Mr. Lydekker’s own words. It is a significant fact that in the present day no author pretends to write a complete account of his subject, who does not take some notice of its Palajontological aspect, and I feel myself very fortunate in having secured the assistance of such a well-known Palaeontologist as my friend Mr. Lydekker for this record of our British Mammalia, past and present.

Mr. Lydekker is not an advocate for the adoption of the Scomber scomber principle in zoological nomenclature. I feel convinced, however, that the absolute justice of retaining every specific name given by Linnaeus will some day be recognised. Thus, in my opinion, the correct title of the Badger should be Me/es meles (L.) ; of the Otter, Lutra lutra (L.) ; of the Roe-deer, Capreolus capreolus (L.) ; of the Common Porpoise, Phoccena phoccena (L.) ; of the Killer, Orca orca (L.).

R. BOWDLER SHARPE.

AUTHOR’S PREFACE.

Although memoirs relating to particular groups have from time to time made their appearance, no Monograph of the British Mammals as a whole has been published since the second edition of Bell’s “British Quadrupeds” in 1874. Since that date considerable advances have been made with regard to our knowledge of the geographical distribution of our Native Mammals, while the careful study of nomenclature instituted of late years, has rendered it necessary that many of our Mammals should be known by scientific names different from those by which they have been commonly designated in the older works on Natural History. These two circumstances would alone justify the issue of the present volume; but there is a further justification for its appearance, in that it contains, for the first time in a work of this nature, brief notices of the species exterminated within the historic period, with a further section devoted to the fossil forms.

The Author makes no claim to being an observer of the habits of British Mammals ; and he has accordingly drawn largely from Macgillivray’s excellent “Manual,” published in the original issue of the “ Naturalist’s Library.” Indeed, the present volume may be regarded almost as a new edition of that excellent, although now somewhat antiquated, work. When necessary, Macgillivray’s observations have, however, been added to or modified; and the Author’s best thanks are due to Mr. A. Trevor-Battye and Mr. W. E. de Winton for

Vlll author’s preface.

many original observations on the subject of habits. Thanks are also due to Mr. J. E. Harting, from whose numerous papers on British Mammals, especially his volume on the species recently exterminated from our islands, and also his Report on the “ Vole-Plague,” a large amount of matter has been culled. My acknowledgments must likewise be tendered to Mr. A. G. More, of the Dublin Museum, for much important information kindly communicated by letter on the subject of Irish Mammals.

Although attention has been especially directed to the subject of distribution, it has not been deemed necessary to give the name of every county from which the more uncommon species have been recorded.

RICHARD LYDEKKER.

SYSTEMATIC INDEX.

PAGE

INTRODUCTION i

ORDER CHIROPTERA 13

FAMILY RHIN0L0PHID/2 16

I. Rhinolophus, Desm 17

1. ferrum-equinum (Schreber) ... ... ... ... ... iS

FAMILY VESPERTILIONID.dE 21

T. Plecotus, Geoffr 22

III. Vesperugo, Keys, and Bias. 27

1Y. Vespertilio, L 4]

2. daubentoni, Leisl. : ... ... 43

ORDER INSECTIVORA 53

FAMILY ERINACEID3E 55

I. Erinaceus, L 55

PAGE

FAMILY TALPID/E 62

I. Talpa, L. 63

1. europoea, L 64

FAMILY SORICID/E 74

I. Sorex, L. 75

II. Crossopus, Wagl 80

1. fodiens (Pall.) 80

ORDER CARNIVORA 84

FAMILY FELID/F. 86

I. Feus, L. 87

1. catus, L 8S:

FAMILY CAN I DA7. 94

I. Canis, L. 95

FAMILY MUSTELID/F. 104

I. Mustela, L 105

II. Meles, Storr. ... 125

III. Lutra, Erxl 134

1. vulgaris, Erxl. . . . 135

FAMILY URSID/E 140.

I. Ursus, L 141

FAMILY PHOCID.-E i4>

x. grypus (Fabr.) 145

SYSTEMATIC INDEX. XI

PAGE

II. Piioca, L 148

III. Cystophora, Nilss 158

FAMILY TRICPIECIilD/E 160

I. Trichechus, L. 161

ORDER RODENTIA 164

FAMILY SCIURID/E 166

I. Sciurus, L 167

FAMILY CASTORIFLE 172

I. Castor, L 172

FAMILY MYOXID/E 175

I. Muscardinus, Kaup. 176

FAMILY MURID/E 1S0

II. Microtus, Schrank 201

1. agrestis (L.) 202

3. glareolus (Schreber) ... ... 213

Xll

SYSTEMATIC INDEX.

FAMILY LEPORID/E ...

I. Lepus, L.

1. europaus, Pall.

2. timidus, L.

3. cuniculus, L.

ORDER UNGULATA ...

FAMILY BOV I D/E

I. Bos, L

1. taurus, L.

FAMILY CERVIDFE ...

I. Cervus, L

1. elaphus, L.

2. dama, L.

II. Capreolus, H. Smith

1. caprea, Gray.

III. Rangifer, H. Smith

1. tarandus (L.)

FAMILY SUID.E

I. Sus, L

1. scrofa, L.

ORDER CETACEA

FAMILY BAL.ENID/E

I. BAL/ENA, L

1. australis, Desm.

II. MEGAPTERA, Gray ...

1. boops (Fabr. )

III. Bai./ENOPTERA, Lacep.

1. sibbaldi (Gray) ...

2. musculus (L.) ...

3. borealis, Less. .

4. rostrata (Fabr.) ...

FAMILY PIIYSETERID/E

I. Physeter, L

1. macrocephalus, L.

... 234

• 235 235

273 ... 273 ... 274

SYSTEMATIC INDEX.

XII 1

PAGE

II. IIyperoodon, Lacep 276

III. Missoplodon, Gerv. 279

IV. Ziphius, Cuv. 282

FAMILY DELPIIINIDAi 282

I. Monodon, L ... 283

II. Delphinapterus, Lacep 284

III. Phoc.ena, Cuv 2S5

IV. Orca, Gray 287

V. Globicephai.us, Less. 289

VI. Grampus, Gray 290

VII. Lagenorhynciius, Gray 292

VIII. Delphinus, L 295

IX. Tursiops, Gerv 296

I. The Cavern and Brick-earth Period 298

II. The Forest-bed and Crag Periods 308

III. The Lower Tertiary Period 319

LIST OF PLATES.

I. — Greater Horse-shoe Bat

II. — Long-eared Bat

III. — Pipistrelle

IV. — Reddish-Grey Bat

V. — Common Ifedge-hog

VI. — Common Shrew

VII. — Water-Shrew ...

VIII.— Wild Cat

IX. — Fox

X. — Pine-Marten ...

XI. — Polecat

XII. — Stoat in summer dress

XIII. — Stoat in winter dress ...

XIV. — Weasel ...

XV. — Common Badger

XVI. — Common Otter...

XVII. — Common Seal

XVIII. — Harp-Seal

XIX. — Common Squirrel

XX. — Common Dormouse ...

XXI. — Harvest-Mouse...

XXII. — Wood-Mouse ...

XXIII.— Black Rat

XXIV. — Common Field- Vole ...

XXV.— Bank-Vole

XXVI.— Water-Vole

XXVII. — Common Hare XXVIII. — Mountain-Hare

XXIX. — Chillingham Cattle

XXX.— Red Deer

XXXI.— Fallow Deer

XXXII. —Common Roe ..

Plecotus auritus.

Vesperugo pipistrelius.

Vesper tilio naltereri.

Erinaceus europceus.

Sorex vulgaris.

Crossopus f odious.

Felis catus.

Cams vulpes.

Mustela martes.

Mustela pulorius.

Mustela erminea.

Mustela erminea.

Mustela vulgaris.

Meles taxus.

Lutra vulgaris.

Phoca vitulina.

Phoca grcmlandica.

Sciurus vulgaris.

Muscardinus avellanarius .

Mus minutus.

Mus sylvalicus.

Mus raitus.

Microtus agreslis.

Microtus glareolus.

Microtus amphibius.

Lepus europceus.

Lepus timulus.

Bos taurus.

Cervus e/aphus.

Cervus darna.

Capreolus caprea.

ALLEN’S NATURALIST’S LIBRARY.

MAMMALS.

BRITISH MAMMALS.

Introduction

According to the admirable classification proposed by Dr. A. R. Wallace, the British Islands come under the category of “ Continental ” Islands ; that is to say, they are islands of large size, composed to a great extent of sedimentary rocks, and situated near to a continent, with the fauna and flora of which their own animals and plants agree to a greater or less extent. Many islands of this class have evidently been united to the continents to which they are adjacent, at no very remote epoch ; and this is attested in our own case not only by the shallowness of the English Channel and the North Sea, but likewise by the similarity of the geological formations on the two sides of the Channel, as well as by the fact that there is not a single indigenous species of British Mammal that is not likewise met with on the Continent. That there are certain continental Mammals now unknown in a living condition in our islands is, indeed, true, but of this we have an adequate and sufficient explanation. Before discussing this point it may, however, be well to mention that the second group of islands in Dr. Wallace’s classification are termed “ Oceanic ” Islands. These are generally of small size, situated either in mid-ocean, where they rise abruptly from great depths, or, if near to a conti-

ALLENS NATURALIST’S LIBRARY.

nent, separated therefrom by exceedingly deep water. Instead of largely consisting of ordinary sedimentary rocks, formed in seas of moderate depth, they are in most or ail cases composed of coral or igneous rocks ; and as their fauna and flora are of a totally different type from that of the continents to which they are nearest, it is evident that they have always existed as islands.

To unite the whole of the British Islands to the Continent would require an elevation of one hundred fathoms at the most ; and that these islands formerly stood at a much higher elevation than is at present the case, we have abundant evidence. There occur, for instance, on many parts of our coasts, submerged forests belonging to a comparatively late period, which are now only partially exposed at very low spring-tides after stormy weather, when they are seen to contain stumps of trees rooted in their natural position in the soil, mixed with deposits, containing remains of existing kinds of plants and animals. Such submerged forests occur near Torquay in Devonshire, and Falmouth in Cornwall, as well as on various parts of the coast of Wales, and in Holyhead Harbour. In the case of Falmouth it is estimated that the submergence has been close on seventy feet. Again, on the east coast of England, at Cromer in Norfolk, we have another submerged forest of older date, which belongs either to the base of the Pleistocene, or the upper part of the Pliocene period, and is known as the “forest-bed.” Moreover, the occurrence of thousands of teeth of the Mammoth, as well as remains of other Mammals which lived during the Pleistocene epoch, or the one immediately preceding our own, on the Dogger Bank, in the North Sea, affords further testimony that this area formed at no very distant epoch a connecting land-link between Britain and the Continent.

If we need further evidence of this subsidence, we have it

INTRODUCTION.

o in the numerous ancient valleys and river-channels which are met with in various parts of the country, running at depths of from one hundred to more than two hundred feet below the present level, and frequently cutting right across the present lines of drainage, and connecting valleys now completely separate. Completely choked with deposits of sand and mud, and showing no evidence of their existence in the present configuration of the country, these ancient drainage channels have been revealed to us by the borer, and afford incontestable evidence of a very extensive subsidence. The evidence of this submergence indicates, therefore, that at no very distant epoch portions, at least, of the land must have stood at least two hundred and fifty feet higher above the sea than they do at present, and probably considerably more ; and such an elevation would, in the opinion of Dr. Wallace, have been amply sufficient to unite England with the Continent.

We may admit, then, that during, or about, the period when the Norfolk forest-bed (which, we may state, antedates the Glacial epoch) was deposited, the British Islands were connected with the Continent, and doubtless also with one another. And it would appear from the researches of palaeontologists that their Mammalian fauna was then in all probability identical, or nearly so, with that of the Continent. For instance, apart from a host of extinct species, into the consideration of which it will be unnecessary to enter on this occasion, it appears that during the forest-bed period there existed in England the Russian Desman ( Myogale moschata ), the Continental Field- Vole (Micro tus arvalis), and the more arctic Glutton (Gulo luscus ) and Musk-Ox (Ovibos moiJialus). And there is evidence that at the later period of the caverns and brick-earths there were many other Continental forms, such as the Lemming (Cuniculus torquaius), two species of Suslik ( Spermophilus ), the Elk ( Alee s machlis), the Reindeer ( Rangifer fnrandus), &c., &c.

B 2 allen’s naturalist’s library.

It should be added that the evidence of the non-existence of these forms during the period of the forest-bed is merely of a negative nature.

On the other hand, at the present day, Britain lacks a very large number of the species of Mammals now inhabiting the Continent, and this deficiency is much more marked in the case of Ireland than it is in England and Scotland; while if we take into consideration Reptiles and Amphibians, which are much less readily dispersed than are Mammals, the discrepancy is still more marked.

In dealing with the Mammals, we must of course omit all the purely aquatic forms, such as Seals, Whales, Porpoises, Dolphins, &c., and confine our attention to those which pass the whole or a large portion of their time on land. On the other hand, it is obvious that we have no right to exclude species like the Wolf and Wild-Boar, which have been exterminated by human agency, during the historic period ; and we accordingly reckon all such as part and parcel of the present British fauna.

The following list includes the various species of terrestrial Mammals which are known to have inhabited the British Islands during the historic period, the writer being indebted to Mr. A. G. More, of Dublin, for those found in Ireland.

1. Greater Horse-shoe Bat ( Rhinolophus ferrum-equinwii).

2. Lesser Horse shoe Bat ( Rhinolophus hipposiderus). I.

3. Long-eared Bat (Plecotus auritus). I.

4. Barbastelle Bat ( Synotus barbastellus).

5. Serotine Bat (Vesperugo serotinus).

6. Noctule Bat ( Vesperugo noctula).

7. Hairy-armed Bat ( Vesperugo leisleri). I.

8. Pipistrelle Bat ( Vesperugo pipistrellus ). I.

9. Daubenton’s Bat ( Vespertilio daubentoni). I

10. Reddish-grey Bat ( Vespertilio nattereri). I. it. Bechstein’s Bat ( Vespertilio bechsteini).

INTRODUCTION.

12. Whiskered Bat ( Vespertilio my st acinus). 1,

13. Hedge-hog (Erinaceus europceus). I.

14. Mole ( Talpa europced).

15. Common Shrew ( Sorex vulgaris).

16. Lesser Shrew (Sorex pygmceus). I.

17. Water-Shrew ( Crossopus fodicus).

18. Wild Cat (Felis catus).

19 *Wolf ( Cam's lupus). I.

20. Fox ( Cam's vulpes). I.

21. Pine-Marten (Mustela martes ). I.

22. Polecat (Mustela putorius ).

23. Stoat (Mustela er mined). I.

24. Weasel (Mustela vulgaris).

25. Badger (Meles taxus). I.

26. Otter (Lutra vulgaris). I.

2 7.*Brown Bear (Ursus arctus). I.

28. Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris). I. (? introduced.)

29. *Beaver (Castor fiber).

30. Dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius).

31. Harvest-Mouse (Mus minutus).

32. Wood-Mouse (Mus sylvaticus). I.

33. Yellow-necked Mouse (Mus fiavicollis).

34. Common Mouse (Mus musculus). I.

35. f Black Rat (Mus rattus). I.

36. f Brown Rat (Mus decumanus). I.

37. Common Field-Vole (Microtus agrestis).

38. Bank-Vole (Microtus glareolus).

39. Water-Vole (Microtus amphibius).

40. Common Hare (Lepus europoeus).

41. Mountain-Hare (Lepus timidus). I.

42. f Rabbit (Lepus cuniculus). I.

43. Wild Cattle (Bos taurus).

44. Red Deer ( Cervus elaphus). I.

45-tFallow Deer (Cervus da/na). I.

allen’s naturalist’s library.

46. Roe Deer ( Capreolus caprca \

47. "-"Wild Boar (Sus scrofa). I.

In this list No. 1 1 has but little right to a place, having only been taken once in Britain. Three other Bats, namely Vesperngo discolor , Vespertilio dasycneme , and Vespertilio murinus , which have been recorded from England, are altogether omitted, since the first was almost certainly introduced, while the other two have no claim to be regarded as habitual denizens of our area. The four species marked with a * are extinct, and perhaps Wild Cattle should be included under the same heading. The Reindeer is not mentioned, since its existence within the limits of the British Islands during the historic period is very doubtful. Those species which have been introduced have a t prefixed to their names ; while such as occur in Ireland have the affix “ I.” It is not improbable that the Common Mouse should be included under the former heading.

Omitting the latter, together with those forms wdiich are certainly knowm to have been introduced, and likewise disregarding Bechstein’s Bat, we thus have a total of forty-one terrestrial Mammals which can be regarded as indigenous inhabitants of Britain during the historic period ; five, or perhaps six, of these being extinct. Out of these only twenty-three are found in Ireland ; and since the Squirrel was probably introduced into that island, while three species are now exterminated, the list of truly indigenous living Hibernian terrestrial Mammals is reduced to nineteen. On the other hand, it is stated by Dr. Wallace that Germany possesses nearly ninety species, and even Scandinavia as many as sixty; although it is probable that these numbers include the introduced species mentioned above.

We have now to account for this discrepancy between the British and Continental Faunas ; and here we may state that the Glacial period, during which the greater part of Britain

INTRODUCTION.

appears to have been covered with an ice-sheet similar to that now enveloping Greenland, occurred subsequently to the deposition of the Norfolk forest-bed, but attained its maximum before that of the brick-earths of the Thames Valley and the loam filling our caves. The relations of these later deposits are, however, far from being fully understood ; and it is quite probable that some of the beds indicating a comparatively mild climate were laid down during warm interludes in the Glacial period, which would account for the curious oscillations of southern and northern forms of Mammals met with in our later deposits.

With regard to the date when the last union of Britain with the Continent took place, Dr. Wallace, in his “ Island Life,” writes that this “was comparatively recent, as shown by the identity of the shells [found in the later deposits] with living species, and the fact that the buried river-channels are all covered with clays and gravels of the Glacial period, of such a character as to indicate that most of them were deposited above the sea-level. From these and various other indications geologists are all agreed that the last continental period, as it is called, was subsequent to the greatest development of the ice, but probably before the cold period had wholly passed away.”

In referring to the poverty of Britain as compared with the Continent in species, the same author observes that “ the former union of our islands with the Continent is not, however, the only recent change they have undergone. There is equally good evidence that a considerable portion, if not the entire area, has been submerged to a depth of nearly two thousand teet, at which time only what are now the highest mountains would remain as groups of rocky islets. This submersion must have destroyed the greater part of the life of our country ; and as it certainly occurred during the latter part of the Glacial allen’s naturalist’s library.

epoch, the subsequent elevation and union with the Continent cannot have been of very long duration, and this fact must have had an important bearing on the character of the existing fauna and flora of Britain. We know that just before and during the Glacial period we possessed a fauna almost, or quite, identical with that of adjacent parts of the Continent and equally rich in species. The submergence destroyed this fauna ; and the permanent change of climate on the passing away of the Glacial conditions appears to have led to the extinction or migration of many species in the adjacent continental areas, where they were succeeded by the assemblage of animals now occupying Central Europe. When England became continental, these entered our country ; but sufficient time does not seem to have elapsed for the migration to have been completed before subsidence again occurred, cutting off the further influx of purely terrestrial animals, and leaving us without the number of species which our favourable climate and

varied surface entitle us to The depth of the

Irish Sea being somewhat greater than that of the German Ocean, the connecting land would there probably be of small extent and of less duration, thus offering an additional barrier to migration, whence has arisen the comparative zoological poverty of Ireland.”

It will be apparent from this that Dr. Wallace attributes the clean sweep, which he considers to have been made of the ancient British fauna, not to the ice-sheet at the epoch of maximum glaciation, but to a submergence of much later date. It does not appear, however, that the evidence that the submergence in question took place at such a late date is by any means decisive; and other geologists attribute the disappearance of the greater part of the fauna to the ice-sheet itself, a view with which we ourselves are more inclined to agree. On the other hand, as we shall presently see, another writer disputes

INTRODUCTION.

the clean sweep of the fauna altogether, and thinks it may have survived in the southern part of England, whence it again spread northwards with the return of more favourable conditions ; although with the loss of such forms as were unable to withstand a considerable amount of cold. On this latter view it is considered that Britain was never connected with the Continent after the passing away of the Glacial period.

To make matters more intelligible, we may give a summary (taken from Mr. Horace Woodward’s “ Geology of England ”) of what Prof. James Geikie considers to have been the sequence of physical changes in Britain subsequent to the deposition of the Norfolk forest-bed, arranged in chronological order.

1. Deposition of Norfolk forest-bed, and indications of ap proaching cold.

2. “Till” deposits of Cromer, and the lowest Boulder Clay (an ice-formation) of other parts ; this being a period of elevation of land, accompanied by severe glacial conditions.

3. Period of considerable submergence, during which marine sands and gravels were deposited in many parts, reaching nearly to the summit of Moel Tryfaen ; this epoch being apparently equivalent to Dr. Wallace’s great period of submergence.

4. Period of elevation of land, during which a large portion of Britain was covered with sheet-ice, and the greater part of the Boulder Clay was deposited ; this being the period when, according to the more general view, the country was uninhabited by the greater part of the Mammals with which it is now populated.

5. A period of less severe climatic conditions, during which the brick-earths and cavern deposits were laid down, and the climate gradually changed from intense cold to temperate and genial; Arctic and Southern animals visiting Britain, according io allen’s naturalist’s library.

as the conditions were the more favourable to the one or the other.

6. A period of severe glacial conditions, with glaciers and coast-ice, chiefly affecting Scotland, and the north of England and Wales.

7. Period of the retreat of the ice, when a few mountainglaciers alone remained, and Britain was probably insulated.

8. Britain again continental ; summer and winter temperatures more excessive than now ; great forests largely prevalent. Incoming and spreading of the existing fauna.

9. Period of final insulation of Britain ; the climate being moist, the great forests tending to disappear, and peat-mosses prevalent.

10. The present condition of things.

Whether, therefore, the disappearance of the continental fauna in Britain be attributed to submergence or to the direct action of the ice-sheet, it will be apparent that both Mr. Wallace and Professor Geikie are at one in considering that Britain has been connected with the Continent at two distinct epochs, and that the present fauna did not make its appearance till the second continental period.

While admitting that both these high authorities are right in regard to the disappearance of the original continental fauna from the greater part of the islands, Mr. G. W. Bulman, however, in a paper contributed to Natural Science for October, 1893, disputes the contention that its disappearance was total, and consequently urges that there is no need for a second connection with the Continent after Lhe first severance.

This writer bases his contention oi the survival in our islands of a part of the original fauna from the southern extent of the ice during the period of maximum intensity 01 the

INTRODUCTION.