|0g ON BATS. 



die* 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 this is a smaller, in which the noftrils are 

 placed; between these are two other small membranes 

 standing a little obliquely, and appearing as valves to the 

 nostrils ; behind these stands a much more elevated longi- 

 tudinal membrane ; and further back is another transversely 

 placed, of a pyramidal shape, standing erect behind the 

 eyes; these last are covered slightly with hair, and some 

 long bristles: round the upper lip under the exterior mem- 

 brane of the nose is a row of minute tubercles, each fur- 

 nished with a small bristle, equally well calculated to guide 

 the lesser winged insects to the mouth, as the vibrissa 

 pcctinatcc observed in several species of birds: the eyes are 

 very small, black, and hidden in the fur : the ears large, 

 pointed, and turned a little back at their tips ; their base 

 almost surrounds the opening, but at the outer part in each 

 is a notch, which admits of the fore part of the ear closing 

 within the other as a substitute for a valve so common in 

 most other species, but of which this is destitute. 

 F«nrod in Jt is now many years since I first noticed this species &£ 



bat in Wiltshire; once, in particular, I recollect to have 

 seen a great many taken in the winter over the hollow of a 

 baker's oven, having got in through a small external fis- 

 sure. In the year 1804, about the latter end of the month 

 of May, I observed several in an old building at the verge 

 of a wood at Lackhara, in the same county, erected for the 

 shelter of cattle. In this shaded dark abode, surrounded 

 by lofty oaks, it is not unusual to see several adhering to the 

 plastered roof by their hind claws ; and when approached, 

 generally crawling a little to one side, and showing signs of 

 uneasiness by moving their heads about in various direc- 

 tions, but not seeming inclined to take flight, till they have 

 been repeatedly disturbed. 



At this time I had not been fortunate enough to discover 

 the haunt of vespejtilio ferrum-equinum; but my wishes 

 have bince been amply gratified, by taking nine of the 



v.feTTum- 



"VTilt^hir 



