46 VESPERTILIONTDiE. 



is probable, however, that in its geographical range 

 this species is not confined to Europe, nor even to the 

 adjacent parts of Asia, but that it is rather widely 

 distributed in the latter quarter of the globe, since we 

 have great reason for supposing that it occurs in India 

 and in China. Hitherto we have not seen specimens 

 from Japan, although other European species have been 

 received from there ; and neither does it appear to have 

 been received, with tlie Noctule and Vespertilio murinus, 

 from North Africa ; but we are persuaded that the Vesper- 

 tilio megalurus of M. Temminck, from Southern Africa, 

 specimens of which have recently been examined in the 

 Leyden Museum, is no other than the young of the 

 Serotine. 



The face is almost naked ; the muzzle short, broad, 

 and tumid ; the nose is about a line and a half across ; 

 the nostrils rounded ; the upper lip is furnished with se- 

 baceous glands, from which spring a few hairs ; the fore- 

 head is very hairy ; the ears are oval, somewhat triangular, 

 shorter than the head, the inner margin much arched ; 

 the apex obtuse, rounded, and bending outwards ; the 

 basal half hairy on the outer surface, the rest naked ; 

 the tragus elongate, semicordate, pointed at the extre- 

 mity. The teeth are fewer in number than in any other 

 British species of this family, there being only thirty-two, 

 as in RJmiohpJms. The tail is exserted to the extent of 

 three lines. 



The general colour of the fur in the male is a deep 

 rich chestnut brown on the upper parts, passing into 

 yellowish grey beneath ; that of the female much brighter. 

 The hair is long, glossy, soft, and silky. The membranes 

 are dark brown, approaching to black. 



The Serotine appears liable to greater variation in 

 colour than any other European Bat. From the Isle of 

 Wight, and from Folkestone, we have seen specimens 



