THE PIPISTRELLE, NOCTULE, AND SEROTINE 275 



Certain species of the genus approximate, however, in some of their character- 

 istics to bats of other groups ; one coming so close in general appearance to the 

 long-eared bats that, without careful examination, it might readily be mistaken for 

 a member of that group. " This genus of bats," observes Dr. Dobson, " probably 

 contains the greatest number of individuals among the Chiroptera. The common 

 bats of all countries, especially of those lying within the tropical and subtropical 

 regions of the northern hemisphere, generally belong to it. ... The color of 

 the fur is generally dark brown or black, the extremities of the hairs being of a paler 

 color on the upper surface, and ashy or whitish beneath." One species of this 



THE PIPISTREUvE. 

 (Natural size.) 



genus ( V. borealis) has the most northern range of all bats, having been observed 

 flying within the limits of the Arctic circle. 



The pipistrelle, which we take as the first example of the genus, belongs to the 

 typical section of Vesperugo, in which the incisors number and the premolar teeth 

 are | on either side of the jaws. It is a small species, measuring 1.65 inches in 

 length of head and body, and with a span of wing of about 8| inches. The fur is 

 rather long and silky, of a yellowish -red color near the roots of the ears, but else- 

 where reddish brown above, and dusky beneath. This bat, the smallest of the Brit- 

 ish species, is distributed all over Europe, the temperate parts of Asia, and North 



