LEISLER'S BAT 89 



British mammal in the first edition of Bell, whose figure, taken 

 from a single specimen in the British Museum, was the first 

 representation of the species. 



We are now familiar with the appearance and habits of this, 

 at least in Ireland, locally abundant species. In England, 

 however, its distribution is still very imperfectly known, but 

 its general reputation for rarity, judging from the late R. F. 

 Tomes's observation of it at various localities in the valley of 

 the Avon, is probably exaggerated. 



Inability to distinguish it from the Noctule — of which, 

 in all external characters, except colour and pdour, and 

 in many of its habits, it has long been considered a duplicate 

 in miniature — and the very short period of the day 

 during which it may be observed upon the wing, have 

 probably contributed to neglect of this bat by English 

 naturalists ; whereas by the Irish, who are not troubled with 

 the confusion created by the presence of the Noctule, it is more 

 easily identified and brought under observation. As a matter 

 of fact, the two are so distinct when in the hand, and the 

 shape and proportions of their wings are so different, that it is 

 likely that, now that these characters have been published, closer 

 study will reveal corresponding divergences in habits, and lead 

 to means of identification on the wing. 



Until the year 1899, there existed no published account of 

 the habits of this species in English other than the few lines 

 inserted by Tomes in Bell's second edition. " Previously to 

 1849," wrote Tomes, "a Bat had often been observed which, 

 from its smaller size and different mode of flight, appeared to 

 be quite distinct from the Noctule; but it was not until June 

 of that year that an opportunity occurred of examining a 

 specimen ; the difficulty of obtaining specimens arising not 

 so much from its rarity as from its general habit and style of 

 flying. Whilst the Noctule may throughout the whole of the 

 summer be seen taking its regular evening flight, night after 

 night, near the same spot, the Leisler's Bat, on the contrary, 

 will be seen once, perhaps for a few minutes only, and then 

 lost sight of. It appears to affect no particular altitude in its 

 flight any more than it preserves a regular or prescribed beat. 

 When the weather is fine, you may see this bat passing on in 



K 



