A Survey of the Vertebrate Fauna of the Isle of May (Firth of Forth)

Abstract

TWELVE examples of Mus musculus L. were trapped on the Isle of May during July 1936. Ordinary break-back traps were used and these were set at night and visited in the early morning, and during the following day. The interval that must have occurred between trapping and collecting in many cases probably accounts for the small number of fleas (Siphonaptera) recorded. In one of the two cases where they were found the individual was still alive in the trap. Many mites (Acarina) were collected from some of the specimens. All these belonged to the species Aleurobius farinae Koch, and had evidently come from the storehouses that the mice frequented. Trapping was first carried out in the outhouses and stores of the lighthouse buildings; but since only small numbers were obtained in this way, the walls of the various enclosed fields were tried, with a much higher yield. Towards the end of the visit, however, a period of wet weather intervened, and most were then caught again in the outhouses. The Isle of May is five miles distant from the nearest coast (that of Fife to the north). The rest of the mammal fauna consists entirely of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus L.). The lighthouse keepers are certain that there are no rats, and trapping along the rocks near the coast produced no shrews. I wish very gratefully to acknowledge the help given me in identification by the following experts: Dr H. A. Baylis (parasitic worms); Mr F. J. Cox (Siphonaptera); and Mrs Margaret Hughes (Acarina).