46 ANIMAL LIFE OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



were mere stragglers which had reached our shores on board 

 ship. Had they occurred as residents their distinctive colora- 

 tion dark brown upperside mottled with yellow-brown and 

 whitish underside and large size, would have established their 

 identity at once. 



Great Bat (Nyctalus noctula, Schreber). 



Though similar to the Serotine in size and to the Pipistrelle 

 in form, the Great Bat or Noctule was recognised as a distinct 

 species long ago. We might with great fitness call this White's 

 Bat, for it was the Selborne naturalist who first called attention 

 to it as a native species, under the name of altivolans, sug- 

 gested by its high flight. Schreber, however, had some years 

 previously named it noctula^ basing his description upon a 

 French specimen. White refers to it several times, and in his 

 xxxvith letter to Pennant gives particulars which the latter 

 included in his " British Zoology." Part of White's description 

 is worth quoting. He says : " In the extent of their wings they 

 measured fourteen inches and a half; and four inches and a 

 half from the nose to the tip of the tail ; their heads were large, 

 their nostrils bilobated, their shoulders broad and muscular ; 

 and their whole bodies fleshy and plump. Nothing could be 

 more sleek than their fur, which was of a bright chestnut 

 colour. . . . They weighed each, when entire, full one ounce 

 and one drachm. Within the ear there was somewhat of a 

 peculiar structure that I did not understand perfectly ! [? tragus] 

 but refer it to the observation of the curious anatomist. These 

 creatures sent forth a very rancid and offensive smell." 



To add to White's description, it maybe said that the general 

 form is robust and heavy, the forearm massive, the wing long 

 and slender, its narrowness being due to the shortness of the 

 fifth finger. The lower leg is short and thick and the foot 

 broad and powerful. The muzzle is broad and has a glandular 



