134 The Irish Naturalist. [May, 1900. 



MAMMALS. 



New Irish Locality for Leisler's Bat. 



In his interesting communication to the Irish Naturalist of August, 

 1S99, pp. 169 to 174, and plate 8, Dr. N. H. Alcock showed that Leisler's, 

 or the Hairy-armed Bat, Pipistrellus Leisleri (Kaup), is at present known 

 only from the North and middle East of Ireland, and that in the former 

 portion of the country at least it is common. 



It would appear that the distribution of this bat in Ireland may be 

 considerably wider than our present knowledge would have led us to 

 infer, for my valued correspondent, Mr. P. \V. Finn, sent me for identi- 

 fication from St. MuUin's, Co. Kilkenny, a live specimen (as well as a live 

 Pipistrelle), with a letter dated October 21st, 1S99. Mr. Finn remarked 

 that " it is a specimen of bat one rarely sees here, the long-eared one 

 being the most common." It appears that this specimen had its home 

 in a deep hole, of which the diameter was about li inches, in the wall of 

 a barn. From this hole Mr. Finn watched it for a fortnight, sall3'ing 

 forth "every evening to the minute at the same time." One day, 

 however, chancing to look up at the hole in the wall, he saw his friend 

 the bat at the edge of its abode asleep in the sun. With the aid of a 

 ladder its capture was easy, and it is now a thriving prisoner in the pos- 

 session of my friend, Mr. Oldfield Thomas, who reports that it has made 

 a most charming pet, clean, and absolutely devoid of fear. I have 

 myself seen this specimen in captivity, and its habits to some extent 

 agree with those of Mr. Alcock's specimen. Like that specimen it has been 

 taught to come for food on hearing a particular noise. On such occasions 

 it will fly right across a room and alight on the hand that feeds it; but 

 at other times it is averse to flight, and, if made to do so, will simply 

 fly straight across the room and settle on some object on the wall at 

 the opposite end. Its habits in this respect are in striking contrast to 

 those of its fellow-prisoner, the Pipistrelle (since dead), which was fond 

 of exercise on the wing, loved to fly in circles around the room for many 

 minutes at a time. 



I feel almost sure that Leisler's Bat occurs here also, since, although 

 I have no specimen to produce in evidence, I have on more than one 

 occasion seen bats of a distinctly large size, usually flying in a straight 

 course and at a considerable height from the ground. Thus for about 

 half an hour from 8 p.m. on May 29th, 1898, I watched a large bat flying 

 about in front of the house at a height of about 60 feet or more. After a 

 time it flew away and disappeared over some high trees. It is probable 

 then that, as at St. Mullin's, so here, we have at least three species of 

 bats ; at least the distribution of Leisler's Bat may now be regarded as 

 including in its area the whole East of Ireland. 



G. E. H. Barrett-Hamii^TON. 



Kilmanock, Co. Wexford. 



