426 Linruean Society. 



December 6. — Thomas Bell, Esq., President, in the Chair. 



Read a " Notice of several species of Bats, captured in England 

 during the present autumn." By G. B. Buckton, Esq., F.L.S. &c. 



The species referred to are Vespertilio serotinus. Daub., V. Dau- 

 hentonii var. emarginatus, and the typical V. Duubentonii. Of V. 

 serotinus three specimens were obtained in August last at Chartham, 

 about three miles from Canterbur)', and captured in rather a singular 

 manner. On returning late from a fishing expedition, the author 

 was interested in watching several large bats hawking for beetles 

 and the white moth (Porthesia chrt/sorrhaa) , -which, was then plentiful. 

 The idea occurred to him of roughly imitating the last insect by 

 drawing a shred of white paper through the top ring of his rod and 

 vibrating it ; and this mancEuvre, under the thick trees, had the 

 effect of a decoy, and in a few minutes he switched down two speci- 

 mens almost unhurt. On another evening he procured a third in- 

 dividual, and might easily have obtained more, as it appeared to be 

 the common bat of the neighbourhood ; although Mr. Jenyns, to 

 whom the specimens were submitted, states that he has seen but 

 two other English specimens, which (as appears from Mr. Bell's 

 ' British Quadrupeds ') were taken in the neighbourhood of London. 

 Mr. W. Borrer has, however, found it not of unfrequent occurrence 

 in the chalk excavations in Dover Cliff. When handled, these bats 

 uttered a shrill chatter, and showed their teeth, with a strong dis- 

 position to bite. Their flight is graceful but somewhat heavy, and 

 appeared to be limited to about an hour after sunset. They seem to 

 affect the vicinity of high trees and shady places. 



Vespertilio Daubentonii var. emarginatus was knocked down while 

 flitting in company with another, over the water, under some willows 

 on the banks of the river Stour ; and three specimens of V. DaU' 

 bentonii were obtained from the church-tower of Christchurch, Hants, 

 where they may be found in plenty. Mr. Buckton describes the 

 differences between V. emarginatus and V. Daubentonii as follows. 

 V. emarginatus is nearly an inch larger in expanse of wings and half 

 an inch longer from the nose to the tail*. The ears are somewhat 

 narrower and more deeply notched ; the thumb is stouter, and with 

 reference to the size of the bat not so long. The fur is more of an 

 ash-gray, and the flying membrane and fur of the under side more 

 cool in colour. It appears to have much of the habit of F. mystaci- 

 nus. On falling into the water it swam well to the bank, notwith- 

 standing some current in the stream. Mr. Couch, in a paper published 

 in the ' Zoologist,' has recorded the occurrence of V. emarginatus in 

 the neighbourhood of Falmouth; but Mr. Newman, in the same 



* The actual measurements are as follows : — 



V. emarginatus. V. Daubentonii. 



inches. inches. 



Expanse 10^ 9\ 



Nose to tail 3-7 3-1 



Fore-arm 1-6 1-6 nearly. 



Tail 1-4 1-2^ 



Thumb -4 -3 



