36 ANIMAL LIFE OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



The Larger Horse-shoe Bat has an extensive distribution. 

 From England it is found through Central Europe and the 

 Mediterranean region, through the Himalayas to China and 

 southern Japan. In our own country it is found chiefly in the 

 South-west of England, South and West Wales, but does not 

 occur in either Scotland or Ireland. The presence or absence 

 of caves suitable for a winter retreat appears to have some 

 bearing upon its distribution. 



Lesser Horse-Shoe Bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros, 

 Bechstein). 



The Lesser Horse-shoe Bat is much smaller and more 

 delicately built than the species last described. The nose-leaf 

 has a narrower outline and its sella is more wedge-shaped ; the 

 lancet slender with a wedge-shaped tip. The expanse of wings 

 is less than ten inches, and the length of the forearm is only an 

 inch and a half. The colour is much the same as in the larger 

 species, but somewhat darker above and more yellow below. 

 Its habits are similar also, but, naturally, it does not hunt such 

 large beetles, nor does it fly so low. It has a more fluttering 

 flight with intervals of gliding. Its " tchek-tchek " cry is of 

 lower pitch than in most Bats, and Oldham compares it 

 to a diminutive of the alarm-note of the Greater Spotted 

 Woodpecker. 



The single young one is born somewhat later than in the last 

 species : it is born like the other with a thin coat of downy 

 hair on the upper side only. 



Males, apparently, are more numerous than females. 



The species appears to be more abundant in localities 

 where there are caves which provide it with the equable 

 temperature it requires in hibernation. It is most susceptible 

 to wind, and will frequently remain inactive in its shelter because 

 there is wind outside. Even tame individuals exhibit a strong 



