284 



BATS. 



foot, appear to be connected with the nature of their dwelling-places, the inhabit- 

 ants of caves having larger feet more or less free from the membranes, while those 

 living in woods have much smaller feet inclosed in the wing-membrane to the base 

 of the toes." The bats of this genus being of a more delicate organisation than 

 the species of Vesperugo are less capable of withstanding the effects of cold, and 

 have therefore a less northerly range than the latter. And in the countries 

 where the bats of these two genera hibernate, those belonging to the present 

 genus are later in awakening from their winter slumber than are the species of 

 Vesperugo. 



Daubenton's bat belongs to a group of the genus characterised by the large size 



DAUBENTON'S BAT (nat. size). 



of the feet, and also by the wing-membrane rising, as a rule, from the shin-bone or 

 the ankle, as well as by the middle of the free margin of the membrane between 

 the legs forming a very acute angle. Moreover, the tail has one or two joints 

 projecting beyond the edge of the membrane last mentioned, and the spur arising 

 from the ankle to support the same is of very great length. The wing-membrane 

 extends below the ankle to the metatarsus ; and the ears are characterised by 

 their oval form, and are rather shorter than the head. The length of the head and 

 body is 2 inches, and the span of the wings 9 inches. The fur is brownish-black 

 at the base, and usually reddish-brown on the upper-parts and ashy -grey below ; 

 although there is considerable individual variation in this respect. 



