NOTES ON THE MAMMALS OF ESSEX
179
Serotine: Eptesicus serotinus (Schreber).
Two records were made during the last century, at Coggeshall
(before 1863 although not published until 1883 by Miller Christy),
and at Broomfield in 1894. There are several early 20th century
records from a number of localities. Fairly recent records corne
from Loughton (1947), Great Horkesley (Lord Cranbrook), Col-
chester (M. Blackmore, 1943), Great Parndon, Ongar, and a pos-
sible record, one seen in flight, at Broxted in 1956.
Daubenton's Bat: Myotis daubentonii (Kuhl).
Laver recorded this species from under Colchester Castle at the
end of the last century, as did Yarrell before him. It has also
recently been reported in the same place, by C. E. Owen. It was
recorded from the Stour at Sudbury, and between Abridge and
Epping, according to Laver. More recently it has been taken
from the Deneholes at Grays, where nine specimens were ringed,
and also recorded in 1961 from Colchester.
Whiskered Bat: Myotis mystacinus (Kuhl).
The only recent records of this species are for Epping Forest
in 1946. Both Laver (1898) and Doubleday (1843) found it com-
mon in the county, Epping being particularly noted.
Natterer's Bat: Myotis nattereri (Kuhl).
In 1898 Laver wrote that this is one of the commonest
species in the Colchester district, and it is still recorded from there,
resident in the Castle vaults, by Owen. At the Deneholes, 13
specimens were ringed during the recent researches carried out by
the Club. Although it was formerly recorded from Epping, there
are no recent records from that area.
Long-eared Bat: Plecotus auritus (Linnaeus).
This species was formerly recorded as being common in the
Colchester district, where it still occurs (1961). It was recorded
in 1898 as very common at Epping. More recent records are
from Flatford Mill, Parndon, Loughton, Dagenham, Panfield, and
Braintree. Two specimens of this bat were ringed in the Dene-
holes at Grays. During the winter of 1950, six were found at roost
in the loft of a farmhouse at Fingringhoe, according to Owen. It
is probably widespread in the county.
Barbastelle: Barbastella barbastellus (Schreber).
This bat was recorded as not common at the end of the last
century, there being one record for Epping in 1843. There have
been no recent records.
Lagomorpha
Rabbit: Oryctolagus cuniculus (Linnaeus).
Following the first main epidemic of myxomatosis in the sum-
mer of 1955, the Rabbit population fell markedly. In subsequent