20 VESPERTILIONID.E. 



both these instances solitary individuals were seen flying 

 over the Warwickshire Avon. 



Some observations by Mr. George Daniell, recorded in 

 the Proceedings of the Zoological Society for 1834, on 

 the habits of this species, and particularly on its parturi- 

 tion and lactation, are too interesting not to demand 

 insertion here ; and it would be doing injustice to the 

 very pleasing manner in which the facts are detailed, 

 were any part of them omitted. " On the 16th of May, 

 1834, Mr. Daniell procured from Hertfordshire five spe- 

 cimens of the Vespertilio noctula, four females and one 

 male. The latter was exceedingly restless and savage, 

 biting the females, and breaking his teeth against the 

 wires of the cage, in his attempts to escape from his place 

 of confinement. He rejected food and died on the 18th. 

 Up to this time the remaining four continued sulky ; but 

 towards evening they ate a few small pieces of raw beef, 

 in preference to flies, beetles, or gentles, all of which 

 were offered to them ; only one of them, however, fed 

 kindly. On the 20th one died, and on the 22nd two 

 others, each of which was found to be pregnant with a 

 single foetus. The survivor was tried with a variety of 

 food, and evincing a decided preference for the hearts, 

 livers, &c. of fowls, was fed constantly upon them for a 

 month. In the course of this time large flies were fre- 

 quently offered to her, but they were always rejected, 

 although one or two May-chafers, Melolontha vulgaris, 

 were partially eaten. In taking the food, the wings 

 were not thrown forward, as Mr. Daniell had observed 

 them to be in the Pipistrelle ; and the food was seized 

 with an action similar to that of a dog. The water that 

 drained from the food was lapped ; but the head was not 

 raised in drinking, as in the Pipistrelle. The animal took 

 considerable pains in cleaning herself, using the posterior 



