BATS. OHIEOPTERA 181 



measures^ head and body together, 3 inches, and 

 tail 2 inches. The habits of this bat were first 

 described by Gilbert White, Letter XLVI, who 

 gave it the name of ^*^ alti volans " from its high 

 flight. The colour of the fur is pale yellowish- 

 brown, though in some specimens it is chestnut 

 as described by Grilbert White. The noctule is 

 found only in the southern counties of England, 

 and is unknown in Wales, Scotland and Ireland. 

 Its food consists of cockchafers and large beetles 

 and its resting-place is usually a hollow tree. They 

 may be traced, as White observed, by their very 

 offensive smell. When at rest the tail is bent up- 

 wards between the legs. 



The hairy-armed bat ( Vesperugo leisteri) looks like 

 a small noctule. The head and body measure 

 2^ inches and the tail ]§ inches. Like the noctule 

 it has a band of fine short hair running down 

 the underside of the forearm from the elbow to the 

 wrist, but the real distinction between it and the 

 great bat lies in the teeth, and its smaller size. It 

 is rare, but has been taken in the west of England, 

 the Lake district and Ireland. 



The loug-eared bat is the only British represen- 

 tative of the genus Plecotus. The ears are enormous, 

 being nearly as long as the head and body. The 

 general colour is brown above and whitish beneath. 

 The length of the head and body is If inches and 

 the tail about the same. This species is almost as 

 common in the British Isles as the pipistrelle. It 

 has a very swift and active flight, preferring the 

 open country to the neighbourhood of trees. When 



