84 VESPERTILTONID^E. 



Daubenton's figure of the head of the Barbastelle is 

 very correct; that of Geoffroy in the " Annales du 

 Museum," is excessively bad. 



Very little information was afforded by any author as 

 to the animal's habits, until a comparatively recent period, 

 with the exception of M. F. Cuvier, who related the 

 history of one he had in confinement for a few days. 

 It was retained as a species of Vespertilio, until M. 

 Lesson placed it with the Long-eared Bat in the genus 

 Plecotus. Dr. Gray constituted it a distinct genus under 

 the name of Barbastellus, which was certainly objection- 

 able, as removing from it the specific one which had been 

 bestowed upon it by its first discoverer. As no specific 

 name was given by Dr. Gray, the deficiency was supplied 

 in the former edition of this work by adding to it the 

 name of the distinguished naturalist by whose labours 

 it was first made known. In Weigmar's " Archives " for 

 1839, Count Keyserling and Prof. Blasius, objecting to 

 the name of Barbastellus, substituted for it that of 

 Synotus, and the latter is in general use amongst 

 German and Russian naturalists, while most English 

 and French zoologists employ the former. 



In Warwickshire the Barbastelle is not very rare, 

 although by no means abundant. Whether observed in 

 its place of repose during the day, or when taking its 

 evening flight, it is of equally solitary habits. 



If in a twilight stroll about midsummer a person finds 

 himself in a close proximity with a Bat of somewhat 

 thick and clumsy form, but of rather small size, whose 

 flight is so desultory that it appears to be flapping lazily 

 about, hither and thither, seemingly without purpose, 

 and intruding so closely that the flutter of its wings 

 may be heard, and even the cool air thrown by their 

 movement felt upon the cheek, it may with almost cer- 



