BATS 31 



possession of the roof of my house and their smell was most offensive ! Others 

 are solitary in habit, and find some secure hiding-place by themselves. 



It must be remembered that bats are some of the most useful of our coun- 

 try's creatures, as they live entirely upon insects. In captivity, however, they 

 show a distinct liking for scraps of raw meat. They eat considerably more than 

 their own weight in food each day if they can obtain it ; they are, therefore, 

 public benefactors in helping to keep down the noxious insect life for the farmer 

 and the gardener. 



Only some twelve or thirteen species may be considered truly British, 

 though a few others have occasionally been found. The most common is the 

 Pipistrelle, which is also the smallest ; the Noctule, which is the largest British 

 bat, comes next in numbers. 



1. The Serotine Bat (Vespertilio serotinus) so called because it appears 

 late in the evening has ears comparatively small, with a short tragus ; a 

 blunt, wide muzzle, almost naked except for a slight fringe of hair on the upper 

 lip. Length of body, excluding tail, 2f inches. Dark brown above, greyish 

 yellow beneath. Found in the South of England. Hibernates singly, generally 

 in trees. 



2. The Noctule, or GREAT BAT (Pterygistis noctula). Body 3 inches long ; 

 spread of wings up to 14 inches. Has widely spread nostrils ; short, broad 

 ears ; tragus is bean-shaped. Colour, yellow-brown ; very silky hair. A rapid 

 flyer, often uttering shrill squeaks. Gregarious ; feeds chiefly on beetles. 

 Possesses scent glands in the mouth, which emit a very offensive odour. 

 Commonest in the Midlands, but widely distributed, though not in Wales or 

 Scotland. 



3. The Hairy-armed Bat (Pterygistis leisleri) so called from the fore-arm 

 being furred. Length, 2\ inches. Not common ; chiefly found in Western 

 Midlands, Lake District, and East Ireland. 



4. The Pipistrelle, or COMMON BAT. Length, if inch. Head rounded; 

 ears large and triangular ; glandular swellings on face well marked. Colour, 

 reddish brown, shading into grey. Breeds in June and July. Hibernates 

 during depth of winter, but often comes out on a sunny day ; sleeps in crevices 

 of buildings, etc. Flight resembles that of a moth. Feeds on small insects, 

 gnats, and moths. Common everywhere. 



5. Daubenton's Bat (Myotis daubentoni). Under 2 inches. Oval-shaped 

 ears, large in proportion to head ; inner ear nearly half the size of outer. Colour, 

 reddish brown, shading off to grey. Often seen over water. Possesses large 

 feet. Chiefly found in West Midlands and Lake District. 



6. The Reddish Grey Bat (Myotis natter eri}. Body under 2 inches in 

 length. Ears f inch, with a narrow, pointed tragus. Colour, light red-brown, 

 shading to almost white beneath an unmistakable characteristic. Gre- 

 garious in habit ; found in eaves and roofs, sometimes in trees. Fairly common 

 in South and Midlands ; occasional in Scotland and Ireland. 



7. Bechstein's Bat (Myotis bechsteini). Length, 2 inches. Ears nearly 



