TYPICAL BATS. 31 



the terminal fourth of the hairs shining yellowish-white; iinder- 

 parts similar, with the terminal fourth ashy. Length of head 

 and body about 2 inches ; of tail, i^ inch. 



An inhabitant of the mountainous regions of Continental 

 Europe and temperate Asia, as well as Northern Africa, the 

 sole claim of this species to be recognised as British appears to 

 rest on a single example obtained many years ago by the late 

 Dr. W. E. Leach at Plymouth, now preserved in the British 

 Museum. As suggested by Bell, it appears highly probable 

 that this specimen may have been imported in the rigging of 

 some vessel from the Continent. 



III. THE NOCTULE, OR GREAT BAT. VESPERUGO NOCTULA. 



Vespertilio nodula^ Schreber, Saugethiere vol. i. p. 166 



(1775)- 

 Vespertilio magnus^ Berkenhout, Synops. Nat. Hist. Gt. Britain 



p. 2 (1789). 

 Vespertilio altivolans^ White, Nat. Hist. Selborne, letter 37 



(1789). 

 Scotophilus noctula^ Gray, Mag. Zool. vol. ii. p. 497 (1838); 



Bell, British Quadrupeds 2nd ed. p. 17 (1874). 

 Vesperugo nocttda, Keyserling and Blasius in Wiegmann's 



Archiv. fiir Naturg, 1839 p. 117 (1840); Dobson, Cat. 



Chiroptera Brit. Mus. p. 212 (1878). 



Characters. — The Noctule is our first representative of the 

 second or typical sub-division of the genus, differing from the 

 last in the presence of two pairs of upper pre-molar teeth, of 

 which the front pair are very minute. This species, together 

 with the next and two Malayan forms, is further distinguished 

 from all other members of the genus by the wings arising from 

 the ankle, instead of from the bases of the toes. The following 

 are the specific characters of the Noctule, as distinct from the 

 other members of the sub -genus. 



