MOUSE- COLOURED BAT. 49 



It was probably the species known to the Greeks by the 

 name of Nvxreplf) and may be considered as one of the 

 most frequent in Germany, as well as in France and in 

 many other parts of Europe ; but in England it is one of 

 the rarest species yet discovered to be indigenous to the 

 country, and has hitherto only been taken in the gardens 

 of the British Museum. From the large size of this 

 species, and consequently the comparative ease with which 

 specimens could be obtained, we cannot help thinking 

 that were it, properly speaking, an inhabitant of our 

 islands, other examples would by this time have been 

 captured. Yet we have failed in meeting with any 

 other record of its appearance than that above given, 

 which is not altogether satisfactory. When we recollect 

 that previously to the labours of the Rev. L. Jenyns, the 

 Pipistrelle was confounded with the Vespertilio murinus 

 by English naturalists, it will at once appear as by no 

 means improbable, that the confusion of the two may 

 have led to the record of the present one as a British 

 species. It is one of the largest of the European 

 Bats, exceeding even the Noctule in the length of the 

 body by about half an inch, and in the extent of the 

 wings by full an inch. In those countries where it 

 exists in the greatest profusion, it is found by hundreds 

 together, in ancient buildings, in the towers of churches, 

 and other similar retreats; but it does not resort to 

 forests or woods, as many other species do. It is not 

 found associated with others ; and even amongst them- 

 selves, they frequently have violent and bloody quarrels, 

 fighting with their sharp teeth, and holding on to each 

 other by their hooked thumbs, sometimes tearing each 

 other, and even breaking the slender wing-bones of their 

 antagonists. 



They feed on various kinds of nocturnal and crepus- 



H 



