TYPICAL BATS 37 



Vesper Hlio pyginceus^ Leach, Zool. Journ. vol. i. p. 560 (1825) ; 



Bell, British Quadrupeds p. 31 (1837). 

 Scotophilus pipistj-ellus^ Bell, British Quadrupeds 2nd ed. 



p. 34 (1874). 

 Vesperiigo pipistrelhis^ Keyserling and Blasius in Wiegmann's 

 Archiv. fiir Naturg. 1839 p. 321 (1840); Dobson, Cat. 

 Chiroptera Brit. Mus. p. 223 (1878). 

 {Plate HI.) 



Characters. — Although belonging to the same sub-generic 

 group as the two preceding species, the Pipistrelle is at once 

 distinguished from both of the latter by the membrane of the 

 wings arising from the base of the toes, in the manner charac- 

 teristic of the genus generally. The present species belongs 

 to a section of the typical sub-genus, characterised by the earlet 

 being widest at a point slightly above the base of the inner 

 margin. The following are its special characters. 



Ears sub triangular, with the tips rounded, and the outer 

 margins nearly straight for one-third the length below the tips, 

 and then suddenly curving out into a prominent lobe, there 

 being a slight concavity opposite the base of the earlet, in 

 front of which is a prominent convex lobe. Earlet as above, 

 a little inclined forwards, the tip rounded, the inner margin 

 very slightly concave, and the outer one convex with a small 

 lobe at the base, above which there is a very shallow concavity. 

 Muzzle blunt, with well-developed lateral glandular swellings, 

 behind which the face is depressed ; the whole of the region 

 of the muzzle as far back as the eyes, sparsely haired. Feet 

 small, with the lobe of membrane behind the spur well de- 

 veloped. Inner pair of upper incisor teeth with bifid crowns, in 

 which the outermost cusps are smaller and more posteriorly 

 situated than the inner ones ; the outer incisors either longer or 

 shorter than the external cusp of the inner pair. General 

 colour of fur rather deep rufous brown, becoming paler on 



