LONG-EARED BAT. 77 



which the Bat was feeding. As this took phice scarcely 

 four feet from the open window, it was easy to see the 

 whole proceeding, and to determine with certainty the 

 manner in which the food was taken. With scarcely 

 an exception, the moths were picked from the leaves while 

 resting there, only one or two being taken on the wing. 

 While thus occupied, the Bat hovered much after the 

 manner of the Kistrel, and the ears were bent outwards 

 so much as to curl down the sides of the face, appearing 

 more like two large cheek-pouches than ears, no part of 

 these appearing of greater elevation than the crown of 

 the head. This could be noted very accurately, as the 

 creature several times hovered scarcely a yard from the 

 face of the observer, at the open window, as if desirous 

 of entering. This it afterwards did, and flying round 

 the room a few times, again went to its feeding. 



The retreat of the Long-eared Bat is more frequently 

 the roofs of tiled houses in villages or towns, in which 

 places they may be found in summer suspended in 

 clusters from the timbers, and during the winter closely 

 packed between the tiles or in holes of the timbers. The 

 towers of churches also are a favourite resort, and we 

 have taken occasional specimens in the belfry of Strat- 

 ford Church, when in pursuit of the Vespertiliu Dauben 

 tonii. 



The geographical range of this species appears to be 

 considerable. In Europe it is pretty generally known, 

 and specimens of a species of Plecotus from the Hima- 

 laya Mountains dillers in no external respects from 

 the h^uropean one. An examination of the Plecotus 

 Christii of Dr. Gray has satisfied us that it also is refer- 

 able to the British species ; this s^^ecimen from North 

 Africa, and one we possess which came from the fifth 

 cataract of the Nile, have the fur paler and more ashy in 



