BED GEHO GS—BA TS 55 



H inches in length. This species measures about 9i inches in length, the tail being 

 a little over an inch, and the pointed ears two inches long. The Afghan hedgehog 

 {E. megalotis), which has equally long ears, is about a foot in length without the tail, 

 which measures 1| inches. This species is distributed over the greater part of 

 Afghanistan, where it lives on worms, insects, lizards, and especially snails. During 

 the day it sleeps, and from October or November to February it hibernates in deep 

 holes in the ground. Another hedgehog of south-western Asia is Jerdon's hedge- 

 hog (E. jerdoni), which inhabits Sind and the Punjab, and is about 7^ inches long 

 without its tail, which measures a little over an inch in length. The collared 

 hedgehog (E. collaris), which is found in the Punjab, Sind, and other parts of 

 north-western India, has long ears, and a length of 7 inches, exclusive of the tail, 

 which measures about an inch. It is dark in colour with a whitish chin, and a 

 band of white running along each side of the lower jaw up the neck. This species 

 frequents sandy plains, where it hides beneath thorns or in long grass during the 

 day. Its food consists mainly of insects, but it also eats lizards and snails. 

 Stoliczka's hedgehog (E. pictus), which ranges from the east of the Mediterranean 

 area into India, is a very small species, the males being only about 8 inches in 

 length exclusive of the short tail, while the females are smaller. It inhabits 

 north-western India, the Punjab, Sind, Kach, and Rajputana, and extends as far 

 east as Agra. By day it hides among grass or in holes, such as those abandoned 

 by foxes, and is said to be common in the dry parts of north-western India, but 

 as it has been seldom observed, its habits are not well known. All the hedgehogs, 

 it may be noted, are immune to snake-poison. 



Passing on to the bats, several noteworthy species deserve mention, 

 among them being the Indian pipistrelle (Pipistrellus abramus), 

 which is very common, and whose habits have been well observed. It is found 

 beneath roofs, in sheds, old houses, etc., much oftener than in woods, and flies early 

 in the evening, often in the neighbourhood of human habitations. With a body- 

 length of 1-S- inches and a tail-length of almost 1£ inches, in colour it is dark brown 

 above and paler brown below. Its range extends from northern Australia and, at 

 least in summer, over central Europe as far north as Sweden. In India, where 

 it is found up to the height of 7000 feet in the Himalaya, it is one of the most 

 common bats. It flies quickly, but smoothly; and in its pursuit of flying 

 insects suddenly drops in its flight and hovers for a while over the same 

 spot. 



Another species, Kuhl's bat (P. Jcuhli), is reddish or blackish brown above 

 and more yellowish below, but is specially characterised by the yellowish white hind 

 edge of the flying-membrane which extends from the fifth finger to the foot. The 

 length is just over 3 inches, the tail measuring 1£ inches, and the expanse of wing 

 8f inches. Its range extends from the valleys of the southern Alps through 

 southern Europe to northern and north-eastern Africa and south-western Asia. In 

 southern Europe it is the commonest bat, and may be seen flying in great numbers 

 along the streets and between the houses of towns and villages; it is also 

 found on the rocky shores of the Mediterranean at the foot of the Maritime Alps and 

 along the shores of the Adriatic. This bat flies with great swiftness, although not 

 so high or in such bold curves as its two northern relatives. Neither does it range 



