LARGER HORSE-SHOE BAT. 35 



portion of the broad wing membrane is attached to the ankle 

 and the tail almost to the tip of the latter. The colour of the 

 fur above is reddish grey ; on the underside pale grey. Its cry 

 is a sparrow-like chirp. 



The mouth has a straight broad opening below the swollen 

 muzzle with its stiff moustache. The large canine teeth are 

 very conspicuous in contrast with the small incisors. The 

 dental formula for this and the next species is: i-J, ^i,j>#* 



o-> 



J- 



As already indicated, the flight of this Bat is usually low, 

 and it alights to consume its prey, which it presses against the 

 wing membrane, the interfemoral pouch not being large enough 

 for the purpose. Its food consists chiefly of the larger beetles, 

 such as cockchafers and dor-beetles, the quick-running ground- 

 beetle Pterostichus, moths, flies, bees, and caddis-flies. It 

 appears to be a thirsty creature, and may be seen lapping 

 water. It takes its daytime sleep in caves, dark buildings, lofts 

 and roofs. It may hang singly or crowd into crevices. Mr. 

 Coward found it in the Cheddar caves hanging in bunches. 

 Their overhead resorts are revealed by heaps of excrement 

 below. Their natural resting attitude is hanging by the feet 

 head downwards. They cannot walk on a flat surface, and 

 before alighting on a vertical one they turn a somersault in the 

 air to get the proper position. Their senses are so acute that 

 Mr. Chas. Oldham says : " Even when sunk in winter sleep they 

 appreciate a man's approach. The eyes are, of course, then 

 shrouded by the wings, and the sense of danger must be con- 

 veyed to them either by hearing, smell, or, as seems to be most 

 probable, by the exercise of their extraordinary tactile sense', 

 which enables them to actually feel the approaching danger.'' 



There is but one young at a birth, which occurs at the end 

 of June or in July. Its eyes are closed, and the underside is 

 quite naked and the skin purple. The eyes open about the 

 tenth day. 



