BATS 5y 



polar regions, though not for all, as the majority belong to the tropics or the 

 warmer regions of the temperate zone. 



The horseshoe-bats, of which there are two species in Europe, are distinguished 

 by a well-developed nose-leaf, which completely encircles the low-lying nostrils, and 

 by large ears that do not touch at the base, and have no earlet, or "tragus." The 

 greater horseshoe-bat (Rhinolophus ferrwm-equinwm) sleeps during the day in 

 caves and old buildings, which it only leaves in the evening to fly about until com- 

 plete darkness sets in. The males are ashy grey above, and pale grey beneath ; the 

 females light reddish brown above, and reddish grey beneath. 



The lesser horseshoe-bat (R. hipposiderus), which is met with over the 

 greater part of Europe as far north as the Baltic, as far west as Ireland, in Africa 



GREATER HmRSESHc IE-HAT. 



north of the Sahara, and in Asia to the northern districts of western India, has 

 whitish grey fur, rather darker above, with the web extending beyond the heel, and 

 the curved rim on the nose-leaf wider than that of the preceding species. 



Long-Eared With the exception of the two horseshoe-bats, all the European 



Bat - members of the group belong to the family Yespertilionidse, the 



distribution of which is world-wide. Its members have no nose-leaf, but are 

 furnished with a long tail, reaching to the edge of the membrane between the 

 hind limbs, and their ears have a tragus, or earlet. The long-eared bat (Plecotus 

 auritus), which is greyish brown above and lighter in colour underneath, occurs 

 in most parts of Europe, in north Africa, and probably also in the temperate 

 regions of Asia, its distribution practically reaching from Ireland to the Himalaya. 

 Not until late in the evening does this bat leave its resting-place, and it flies all 

 through the night, emitting at all hours a sharp, shrill chirp that is never very 

 loud. 



