THE BATS 95 



has rather large feet. The oval-shaped ears are three-fourths of 



the length of the head i.e., a little more than half an inch long. 



The wings when extended measure 9 in. across. The fifth or 



outer toe is somewhat separate from the others. The membrane 



of the wing arises from the side of the foot, much below the ankle. 



The earlet, or tragus, is moderately pointed, and measures about 



half the length of the ear. The face between the eyes and the 



nostrils is nearly naked. The upper incisor teeth are nearly 



equal in size, with wide notches between the bifid cusps. The 



second premolar in the upper jaw is much smaller than the first, 



but is not pushed inwards. The general colour of this soft-furred 



bat is reddish-brown above and grayish-brown below. The under 



surface may be sometimes almost 



white, but on separating the fur 



above and below the under part 



of the hairs is seen to be black 



or dark gray in colour. The 



membrane is the usual dusky 



dull black, but has a tinge of 



Indian red in parts, due, no HEAD AND FooT OF DAUBENTON - S BAT . 



doubt, in the living bat to the 



coursing of the blood through the veins. The eye, as usual, is 



very small, and is placed quite close to the inner margin of the ear. 



Daubenton's Bat has a particular affection for the vicinity of 

 water, and flies slowly and quiveringly close to the surface of this 

 element. This, no doubt, is done in pursuit of insects, though as 

 the bat is occasionally seen to stoop and dip its nose into the 

 water, it may also be searching for minute floating water insects 

 or dead fish. In captivity Bell states that they would soon become 

 tame, and freely take milk, flies, or pieces of meat from the palm 

 of the hand. When they had seized with their mouths an insect 

 or piece of food that was rather unmanageable, they would make 

 use of the wrist joint to push the substance into the mouth. 



Daubenton's bat inhabits North Africa, Southern and Central 

 Europe, and Asia. In England it has hitherto been observed 

 most in the Western Midlands and Lake District. It seems to be 



