NOTES AND QUERIES.
MAMMALIA.
chiroptera.
Long-eared Bats and their Food.—Along the valley of the Dowles Brook, in the Wyre Forest, this little Bat is numerous. Whilst watching their movements I found they were working the sallow-trees along the stream-sides, feeding upon the dissipated little Noctuæ that can always be found intoxicating themselves upon the bloom in the early spring. One or more Long-eared Bats could frequently be seen circling around the tops of the bushes; and when a moth attracted their attention they would steady themselves in their flight, and with quivering wings (which sometimes gave one an impression of their perching), seize their prey, frequently from off the bloom itself. After thoroughly working one bush they made off to another for the same purpose, when doubtless within a short space of time sufficient food for that night would readily be taken. Whilst watching these little creatures I was surprised at their inquisitiveness and utter fearlessness in my presence; occasionally one would leave the bush and circle around within a few inches of my face and body, its presence often only being recognized by the vibration of the air, which gave one a very uncanny feeling.—J. Steele Elliott (Dixon's Green, Dudley).
insectivora.
Lesser Shrew in Cheshire.—On March 27th I was pleased to find the skull of a Lesser Shrew, Sorex minutus, in an owl-pellet obtained in Dunham Park. This is the second example recorded from Dunham Park, and the fourth from the county. Fifty-four pellets, taken from the foot of two trees, showed the following result on analysis;—Eight Sparrows, one Blue Tit, one Rat, fourteen House-mice, twenty-six Long-tailed Field Mice, one Water Vole, sixty Field Voles, three Bank Voles, forty-nine Common Shrews, three Water Shrews, and one Lesser Shrew. Although the Bank Vole is common in Cheshire, it is very much rarer than the Field Vole on the park-land.—T.A. Coward (Bowdon, Cheshire).
