38 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



the under-parts, the basal half or three-fourths of every hair 

 being black. Length of head and body, about i i inch ; of tail, 

 if inch. 



Distribution. The Pipistrelle ranges from Northern Africa, 

 over the greater part of temperate Europe and Asia, as far 

 south as Kashmir and Gilgit ; it is replaced in India and the 

 adjacent countries by the closely allied Indian Pipistrelle ( V. 

 abramus\ distinguished by its more completely naked muzzle 

 and the form of the incisor teeth, which ranges eastwards as 

 far as Northern Australia, and, in summer at least, is found in 

 Central Europe, and even in Sweden. In the British Islands the 

 Common Pipistrelle appears to be universally distributed, being 

 found from one end of Ireland to the other, and ranging from 

 the south of England to the extreme north of Scotland, in- 

 habiting even the outer Hebrides. 



It may be mentioned here that, although the Pipistrelle is 

 the smallest of the British Bats, it was long confounded with the 

 much larger Vespertilio murinus, which, as being the com- 

 monest Bat on the Continent, was not unnaturally assumed to 

 be the most abundant species on this side the Channel, where, 

 however, it happens to be rare. After persisting for a long 

 period, this error was finally rectified many years ago by the 

 late Rev. Leonard Jenyns (Blomefield), who was one of the 

 pioneers in British vertebrate zoology. 



Habits. Writing of the habits of the Pipistrelle, or, as it is 

 called in many parts of the country, the "Flitter-mouse," Mac- 

 gillivray observes that, " from the middle of spring, but earlier 

 or later according to the warmth of the season, to the middle 

 of October, sometimes commencing as early as March, and 

 continuing till November, this Bat may be seen after sunset 

 in the neighbourhood of towns and villages, over the streets of 

 cities or the roads, in the alleys and lanes, or along the course 

 of brooks and rivers, fluttering with an unsteady motion, and 



