Mr. Montagu's Account of some Species of Bats. 163 



variety; perhaps the male and female: the greater is above three 

 inches and a half long from the nose to the tip of the tail: the 

 extent of the wings above fourteen/' 



With respect to the smaller Horse-shoe Bat, nothing more 

 appeals to be known than that it is inferior in size, but in 

 other respects similar; from which may be inferred that it is 

 very little known, and it has not, to my knowledge, been recorded 

 as indigenous to England. It is therefore with no small de- 

 gree of satisfaction I have to announce, that it is by no means 

 uncommon in particular situations; and I have the pleasure of 

 congratulating the zoologist, that fortunate circumstances have 

 enabled me to put the long unsettled opinion with respect to 

 these two Bats, beyond all possible doubt; having lately taken a 

 considerable number of both species, in each of which the 

 sexual distinction was evident. But to render the subject more 

 clear and incontrovertible, I shall proceed, by giving a descrip- 

 tion of the lesser species, and endeavour clearly to define the 

 characteristic distinction between these two very analogous ani- 

 mals. In order, however, to prevent future confusion, I pro- 

 pose that the least of these should be called VespertiUo.minutus, 

 leaving the other in full possession of the original Linna3a» trivial 

 name of Ferrum-equinum. 



Vespertilio minutus. 



Length scarcely two inches and three quarters from the tip of 

 the nose to the end of the tail, of which the latter is full three 

 fourths of an inch : extent of the wings nine inches and a half: 

 weight from one dram three grains, to one dram twenty grains. 



The colour above is pale rufous-brown, most rufous on the 

 upper part of the head: the nose is surrounded on the top with 

 a broad membrane somewhat in form of a horse-shoe ; within 



y 2 this 



