68 DUBLIN NATURAL HI8T0EY SOCIETT. 



the commoner of the two, though this might arise from the Pipistrelle not begin- 

 ning to fly till half an hour later than the other. On confinement, their manners 

 are very different; the Pipistrelle being impatient, squealing, and biting like a 

 little fury, and running up and down the sides of the net ; while Daubenton's bat 

 was gentle, submitting to be handled, merely gaping with its mouth, and utter- 

 ing a soft, low chirp ; both species used the exserted tip of the tail as an addi- 

 tional foot. Out of the specimens of Daubenton's bat captured or shot, the pro- 

 f»ortion of sexes was seven females and two males. One of Daubenton's bats 

 ived for two days, and fed on flies very readily, and on raw meat. I re- 

 marked, however, that when the fly was not moving before his eyes, the bat took 

 no notice of it, although the fly was touching its nose, or walking over its ears and 

 head. I attempted to keep the others alive ; but though they fed well with me 

 for some days, the journey up in the train killed them. I did not remark the 

 great insensibility to the proximity of objects, which, according to Spallanzani, 

 is so well marked in some species, as one of them, which escaped from us in the 

 house, struck himself repeatedly against the ceiling and corners of the room, in 

 his efforts to elude recapture. I remarked, too, that several of them flew straight 

 into the net when held perfectly steady before the hole. Save in a few particu- 

 lars, the bats answer nearly to the description given in Bell's "British Quadru- 

 f>eds." There was a well-marked sulcus between the nostrils ; the sebaceous fol- 

 icles not well-marked ; exserted portion of tail, a line and a half in length; in- 

 terfemoral, with from eight to fourteen bands. This character is, it would seem, 

 of secondary importance, as the number of bands vary in my specimens. The 

 male and the female differ slightly in dimensions, the female being the larger. 

 The under surface of the latter, particularly the wings, was lighter than the for- 

 mer. The hind claws are thick and clumsy, and ciliated with stiff white hairs. 

 The distribution of this bat is curious, as in England it has only occurred in the 

 eastern counties, and in this country the only county in which it has hitherto 

 been recorded is Down, to the east, though I am sure it will, if looked for, be 

 found in other counties also. 1 regret I have not any more information to sup- 

 ply your Society with in regard to the bat* presented last February by me, as, 

 owing to want of specimens for comparison, I am still in doubt what species to 

 refer it to, as in its characters it partakes of those of both V. Daubentonii and 

 Mystacinus Bell. It resembles in one respect the species under consideration 

 viz., a slight fringe to the interfemoral ; but it differs so much in other 

 respects, that I do not think it can be this bat, being much darker in the 

 membranes and back and ears, and lighter on the belly ; the fur, too, is of a 

 different texture ; it is also slightly smaller, and the tragus differs. In conclu- 

 sion, I beg to lay before you a local list of the distribution of the mammalia of 

 part of Carlow, Kildare, and Queen's County, for which I am indebted to the 

 kindness of the same gentleman who gave me the bats, F. Haughton, Esq. : — 

 Pipistrelle — common, one, captured in 1853, in company with the next, at 

 Levitstown, county of Kildare. Daubenton's bat — nine, captured June, 1853, 

 in Tankardstown Bridge, Levitstown, county of Kildare— common, though, 

 perhaps, local. Long-eared bat — Levitstown. Hedgehog — common. Badger 

 — Kilmarony woods. Queen's County, rare. Otters, River Barrow — very com- 

 mon. Stoat — very common. Common fox — very common. Long-tailed field- 

 mouse — common ; Levitstown. Common mouse — very common. Black rat — 

 Carlow; single specimen killed. Norway rat — common everywhere. Common 

 marten — very rare ; last seen, about ten years since, at Bestfield, Carlow. A 

 skin obtained at Mount Leinster, county of Carlow, eighteen years since, was 

 sent to the late Mr. Vigors, by S. Haughton, Esq. Irish, or varying hare— ra- 

 ther rare; Oakpark. Rabbit — common. Common squirrel — very rare ; existed 

 formerly in Pollerton, county of Carlow, and still said to be found in Burton 

 Hall woods. This list, though containing but few rarities, is of importance, as 

 all authentic local lists are valuable. It contains but four rare animals — the 



* This proved to be V. mystacinus. Vide Proceedings, vol iv., p. 154. ^ 



