The Mammalian Fauna of the Edinburgh District. 93 
Order CHIROPTERA. 
PLECOTUS AURITUS (Z.). LONG-EARED Bart. 
Though much less abundant than the next species, this 
Bat is widely distributed in the district, and is by no means 
rare. I have myself obtained it at Tynefield and Gosford in 
East Lothian, at Colinton in Midlothian,! and at Lamancha in 
Peeblesshire ; and have seen examples (including one obtained 
by Mr Harvie-Brown at Dunipace in Stirlingshire), or had it 
reported to me, from a number of other localities on both sides 
of the Forth. All my captures have been made while the 
animals were at rest in their hiding-places, which I have 
invariably found to be about buildings. The Colinton colony 
inhabit the ruins of an ancient castle, concealing themselves 
in narrow holes in the masonry of the roofs of the vaults and 
passages. Mr G. Pow has sent me a specimen which was 
taken in the day-time, near Dunbar, on 10th June last. It 
flew against the face of its captor apparently in a dazed state, 
and fell helpless to the ground. At Yetholm, in June 1886, 
I observed one fluttering in broad daylight near an old mill 
in the same semi-conscious state, and might easily have 
captured it but for an intervening stream. Its behaviour was 
in marked contrast to the activity displayed by the Pipistrelle, 
as I have seen it under similar circumstances. As a rule this 
is a late flier, and hence is seldom noticed on wing. In 1793 
it was recorded for Alloa (“ Old Stat. Acc.,” viil., p. 646). 
Since writing the above, I have received from Mr Chouler, 
gamekeeper, Dalkeith Park, a Long-eared Bat which entered 
his house on the evening of lst October, and was observed to 
take two flies from the ceiling of a room in which a bright light 
was burning. It is alive still (12th October), and is allowed 
out of its box for a couple of hours every evening for a flight 
by gaslight. When first exposed to the light, it seems rather 
bewildered, but very soon becomes quite lively, flitting about 
with the utmost confidence, examining every corner of the 
1 A specimen obtained at Yester in East Lothian, on 17th Oct. 1891, has 
been handed to me by Mr Bruce Campbell; and I have to thank Mr D. F, 
Mackenzie for another taken at Mortonhall, near Edinburgh, on 10th Nov. 
