INSECTIVOROUS MAMMALS. 55 



was found in great numbers. This bat is somewhat smaller than the 

 foregoing species, but in other external characteristics is very similar. 

 It is darker in colour, however. Being exceedingly plentiful in Tien- 

 tsin, it may be seen any evening from early spring till late in the 

 autumn. It is the commonest species in these parts. 



Myotis {Leuconae) pequinius was described from exactly the same 

 locahty as the foregoing species, having been taken in fact, at the same 

 time. This is a bat of a grey colour, also without any facial frilhngs. 

 It occurs all over North China, especially in the more mountainous 

 regions. 



When in Kansu I secured specimens of a very small bat, which 

 was identified as belonging to the genus Plpistrellus, though its species 

 was not determined. It was of a dark colour and had no facial mem- 

 branous growths. 



Besides these more or less common forms, we have in Chihli a 

 horse-shoe bat {Rhinolophiis ferrum-equinum nippon). Its name is 

 derived from the peculiar membranous nose-leaf, which is roughly the 

 shape of a horse's shoe. In England the horse-shoe bat is compara- 

 tively common, but its eastern representative seems to be rather rare, 

 at least in North China. The same species occurs in Japan, where it 

 seems to be more plentiful. In size it about equals the serotine, but 

 is somewhat lighter in colour. 



The long-eared bat [Plecotus sp.) is also to be found, though it seems 

 to be rather rare. I have only seen one, and that was in Shansi. 

 Whether the species found in North China is identical with Plecotus 

 arid, recently described from Szechuan I cannot say. 



One other bat, of which I have seen but one specimen, and the 

 name of which I do not know, is worthy of notice. This is a large 

 bat with a peculiar orange-yellow coat. It occurs in Shansi, but seems 

 to be very rare. Except for the remarkable colouring it is not unlike 

 the serotine. 



It is more than likely that there are other species, hitherto un- 

 known to science, occurring in North China. The order is one of the 

 least known in this country, owing, doubtless, to the difificulty experi- 

 enced by collectors in securing even such specimens as they see. 



The order Insectivora is very poorly represented in North China. 

 This is doubtless due to the general dryness of the climate, for in the 

 neiigjhbouring regions of Central and West China, Manchuria and 

 Japan, where there is an abundance of rain, and where, in consequence, 

 such lower forms of life as worms, snails and insect larvae are very 

 plentiful, there is a great variety of shrews, moles and other related 

 types. 



