RARE BRITISH BATS 85 



discovered in this country. I am disposed to 

 think that all three have been originally imported 

 from abroad. Where specimens of rare bats have 

 been found in the country inhabiting trees, caverns, 

 etc., it may be assumed that they are truly British ; 

 but in those instances in which but one or two 

 specimens only have been observed, and those 

 in the immediate vicinity of London or some 

 large provincial seaport, it would appear that 

 their presence is due to their having been brought 

 from abroad. Several of the varieties to which I 

 have above referred are so uncommon as to render 

 it improbable that any of my readers would be 

 likely to discover specimens of them. Never- 

 theless, I have extracted sufficient information 

 respecting them to facilitate the determination of 

 any doubtful specimen which may be procured 

 at all events, if not explicit enough to illustrate 

 what it may be, sufficient to determine what it is 

 not. 



There are few summer evenings in which the 

 common, the long-eared, or the great bat may 

 not be observed, and but few localities in which 

 they are not common. The districts in which 

 insect life is most prolific are those most favoured 

 by the bat tribe, or, as they are scientifically 

 termed, the Cheiroptera (from the Greek ytlp, a 

 hand, impov, a wing) or hand-winged family. On 

 one occasion when fishing in Hampshire, in the 

 course of half an hour I caught a swallow, a bat, 

 and a good Test trout. Needless to remark, the 



