1901. Ai<cock & Moffat. — The Long-eared Bat 249 



This species is readily kept in captivity, and many accounts 

 are given of its habits. At first it is generally very wild and 

 shy, but soon becomes tame. All observers find that the 

 Long-eared Bat shows much more intelligence than other 

 kinds ; for instance, Mr. C. Oldham notes that his specimens 

 picked up meal worms that they had dropped on the table, 

 while the Whiskered Bat did not. We have often observed 

 the Long-eared Bat fly round a room ; in this case the ears are 

 always carried forwards. 



The food of this bat when at large is not confined to any 

 particular species of insect. Mr. G. H. Carpenter, examining 

 fragments in the droppings, found remains of Coleoptera, 

 Lepidoptera, and Diptera ; he named definitely the Common 

 Blue-bottle, Calliphora erythrocephala. Mr. O. V. Aplin (i.) 

 found remains of the Yellow Underwing moth, Triphama, the 

 Silver Y, Plusia gamma, and the Buff Ermine, Spilosoma 

 lubricipeda, under the haunts of this bat. Mr. Harting (ix.) has 

 observed it to feed on species of Tceniocampa, while our own 

 observations recorded above also point to Lepidoptera as a 

 favourite prey. 



In most parts of its ascertained range it appears to be rather 

 abundant. Observers in Kerry, Cork, Carlow, and Westmeath 

 consider it more common in their districts than the Pipistrelle, 

 and in Leitrim and Monaghan it has been pronounced about 

 equally plentiful with that species. In Mayo, however, Mr. 

 Warren reports it as somewhat rare. Comparison as to 

 relative frequency with the Pipistrelle is difficult, and may 

 be misleading, because, as Thompson long ago remarked, the 

 Long-eared Bat is the more easily found in its hiding-places, 

 and the Pipistrelle oftener seen flying about. 



The Long- eared Bat has been found throughout Ireland, 

 with few exceptions, and in the accompanying map the 

 counties where it has been observed are shaded. It is evident 

 that this method of considering the distribution is most 

 imperfect ; no account can be taken of the small " migratory " 

 movements recorded above, still less of the considerations 

 that induce the bats to reside in one place rather than 

 another. Many other objections to the plan we have adopted 

 can be urged with justice. Nevertheless as our knowledge 

 of the whole subject is so fragmentary, we have judged it 

 well to continue these so-called " records." . 



