TYPICAL GROUP. 



271 



THE BARBASTELLE (Synotus barbastellus). 



The barbastelle appears to be one of the rarest of all the British bats, and, 

 like the long-eared bat, is one of two species severally representing a distinct 

 genus. This bat, which belongs to the same group of genera as the species last 

 mentioned, is readily distinguished from the latter externally by the comparatively 

 small size of its ears ; while, if its skull be examined, it will be found to have 

 only thirty-four, in place of thirty-six, teeth; this reduction being due to the 

 disappearance of one pair of premolars from the lower jaw. A further point of 



THE BARBASTELLE (nat. Size). 



difference is to be found in the circumstance that, whereas in the long-eared bat 

 the outer margin of the ear terminates suddenly near the corner of the mouth, 

 in the barbastelle it is produced forwards, so as to extend above the mouth to the 

 front of the eye. 



The barbastelle is found over middle and southern Europe, extending as far 

 north as England and Sweden, and it has also been obtained from North Africa and 

 Arabia, while it may extend, as Dr. Dobson suggests, into the temperate regions of 

 Asia lying to the north of the Himalaya. 



When examined closely, the appearance of the head of the barbastelle is so 

 peculiar as to render its recognition always an easy matter. Thus, the muzzle is 



