88 



BRITISH MAMMALS 



and between the inner pair of upper incisor teeth. The tip of 

 the tail projects for less than one inch beyond the membrane, 

 and has a tendency to curve downwards and inwards towards the 

 belly. The wing membrane in this bat starts from the beginning 

 of the ankle, and not from the base of the toes. The eyes in 

 this species are placed very close to the inner margin of the ear, 

 and are almost hidden by that organ. The fur of this animal 

 is soft, long, and rather silky. In colour it is a yellowish or 

 golden-brown, slightly paler below. The nearly bare ears, the 

 muzzle, and the membrane are a dusky brown-gray. 



The period of gestation in this bat would seem to be as 



Skull of Noctule Bat 

 (ij times natural size). 



Front of Skull of Noctule Bat, 

 To show separation between incisor teeth and 

 large canines (3 times natural size). 



much as two months. It has not been knov/n to produce more 

 than one young at a time in England, but on the Continent 

 two at a birth is a common occurrence. The young, as in all 

 these bats, are born blind and naked. 



The Noctule flies high and rapidly, and when in pursuit of 

 insects often utters harsh or shrill squeaks. Though a most 

 cleanly animal in keeping its own fur in proper condition, it 

 emits a very offensive odour ; and when a number of these bats 

 have congregated in a hollow tree, or in the eaves of a house, 

 the effluvia emanating from them is markedly disagreeable. This 

 bat would appear to feed largely on beetles. It prefers these 

 and other insects that fly to those that crawl, but it will eat meat 

 greedily, if such diet is obtainable. Specimens kept in captivity 

 (and this is a trait recorded of many bats belonging to both 

 sub-orders) are observed to eat more than their own weight in 

 food. This passes so quickly through their system that they 



