HORSE-SHOE BATS. 19 



by its superior size from the other British representative of the 

 genus, the above-mentioned minute characteristics are necessary 

 to differentiate it from its foreign allies, some of which approach 

 it very closely. 



Distribution. This species has a very wide geographical dis- 

 tribution, ranging over the greater part of Europe, Africa, and 

 Asia north of the Himalaya. Its northern range is, however, 

 not so extensive as that of the next species. In Britain it 

 appears to be essentially a southern form, being seemingly 

 very rare even in the midland counties, and quite unrepre- 

 sented in the north, as well as in Scotland. First discovered as 

 a British species at Dartmouth, it has been taken in many 

 localities in the south and west of England, such as Bristol, 

 Colchester, Rochester, and the Isle of Wight. Its favourite 

 haunts are old stone buildings, such as castles and churches, 

 and caves ; and it is especially common in the well-known cave 

 of Kent's Hole, near Torquay, of which it has probably been an 

 inhabitant ever since the age of the Mammoth, since its fos- 

 silised remains have been found there in association with those 

 of the latter and other extinct animals. It may be mentioned 

 that, on the Continent, this Bat is also very generally found in 

 caves, sometimes in enormous numbers, and, what is more 

 remarkable, usually in colonies composed entirely of either 

 male or female individuals. This Bat is not recorded by 

 Thompson from Ireland, and is probably unknown there. 



Habits. The Greater Horse-shoe Bat makes its appearance 

 rather late in the evening; and when on the wing shows a 

 preference for the neighbourhood of trees, and flies high in 

 the air, though its flight is not so powerful as that of its 

 smaller cousin. Its favourite food is said to be fern-chafers. 

 On the wing this Bat appears nearly, or quite, as large as the 

 under-mentioned Noctule, but it is said to be easily dis- 

 tinguished from the latter by the relatively wider wings. 



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