Transcriber's Note: [=o] represents a macron over the letter o. Spelling has been harmonized. CONTENTS categories have been inserted in text. THE WAYSIDE AND WOODLAND SERIES ANIMAL LIFE OF THE BRITISH ISLES [Illustration: _Pl. 1._ _Frontispiece._ *Hedgehog preparing to attack Grass Snake.*] ANIMAL LIFE OF THE BRITISH ISLES A POCKET GUIDE TO THE MAMMALS, REPTILES AND BATRACHIANS OF WAYSIDE AND WOODLAND BY EDWARD STEP, F.L.S. AUTHOR OF "WAYSIDE AND WOODLAND TREES" "WAYSIDE AND WOODLAND BLOSSOMS," ETC., ETC. WITH 111 PLATES FROM PHOTOGRAPHS INCLUDING 48 IN COLOUR BY W. J. STOKOE LONDON FREDERICK WARNE & CO. LTD. AND NEW YORK 1921 "The lusty life of wood and underwood, . . . . . . . . The tawny Squirrel vaulting through the boughs, The Deer, the high-back'd Polecat, the Wild Boar, The burrowing Badger." TENNYSON, _The Foresters_. PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN PREFACE It is unnecessary to say much by way of Preface to the present volume, the series of popular handbooks of which it forms part being so widely known to Nature-lovers. The same methods of treatment that were followed in the previous volumes have been pursued here, though the smaller number of species falling within its scope has allowed a fuller consideration of each. With the exception of the birds (dealt with in Mr. Coward's companion volumes), all the terrestrial animals endowed with a bony framework are included. There are, indeed, a few other native mammals that might have been described; but as they are restricted to the sea it was felt to be undesirable to include their life-histories in the "Wayside and Woodland Series." The Author and Publishers desire to express their thanks to the undermentioned naturalist photographers who have contributed their admirable work for reproduction, viz.: Mr. Douglas English, F.Z.S., for Plates 1, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 20, 23, 25, 26, 27, 37 to 41, 46, 47, 48, 50, 53 to 62, 65, 66, 69, 70, 71, 75, 84, 89, 90, 93, 96, 97, 98, 101, 103, 104, 105, and the lower photograph on Plate 109. To Mr. Oxley Grabham for Plates 3, 4, 7, 8, 21, 24, 28, 30, 32, 43, 49, 52, 63, 85, 94, 95, and 107. Mr. Riley Fortune for Plates 16, 19, 33, 45, 51, 77 to 80, 82, and 88. Mr. Charles Reid for Plates 2, 34, 35, 42, 64, 73, 76, and 83. Mr. Stanley C. Johnson, B.A., for Plates 92, 99, 100, 106, 108, 110, 111, and the upper subject on Plate 109. Mr. E. W. Taylor for Plates 18, 86, and 91. The Author's own contribution consists of Plates 9, 13, 22, 29, 31, 36, 44, 67, 68, 72, 74, and 87. The appearance of 48 of these photographs in the natural colours is due to the skilful work of Mr. W. J. Stokoe. CONTENTS PAGE PREFACE v INTRODUCTORY 1