382 THE zZOOLOGIS‘T. 
flies,—the only insects at hand,—vut drank eagerly of water offered on the 
tips of my fingers, which it carefully licked with its tongue. The disposition 
of Natterer’s Bat is rather fierce, and, having bitten, it retains its grip with 
the tenacity of a bulldog. Having fastened on my finger, and been lifted 
up by it, on one occasion, it hung suspended by its teeth for fully a minute. 
It had a shrill, angry squeak, always uttered when it was touched. Although 
apparently adult, it measured only 9-5 in. in expanse of wings; head and 
body, 1:9 in.; head alone, ‘6 in.; ears, ‘6 in.; tragus, ‘4 in.—O. V. APLIN 
(Bloxham, Banbury). 
Food of the Long-eared Bat.—In the article on Natterer’s Bat (p. 244) 
reference was made to the slight knowledge we possess of the particular 
kinds of insects usually preyed upon by the different species of bats in the 
British list. I have lately been able to satisfy myself that the large-bodied 
moths, the wings of which are so often found strewn about the haunts of these 
animals, are eaten especially by the JLong-eared Bat. At Great Bourton, 
the seats in a summer-house were regularly strewn with moths’ wings, and, 
although unable to catch a bat in the building, I felt pretty sure that it was 
this species, which was very common there. This summer a friend here 
told me of the number of moths’ wings which he found regularly in a small 
empty outhouse in his garden, and one evening, about the end of July, while 
we were sitting in the garden, about nine o’clock, we watched two or three 
bats hawking for insects (probably Lepidoptera, for border and bed were 
ablaze with attractive flowers), and occasionally disappearing in the direction 
of the outhouse. On this occasion again I followed the bat, and captured 
an example of V. auritus which was fluttering about the roof. I may add 
that, as far as I know, bats do not roost in either of the buildings here 
referred to, but merely retire to them to eat the prey they have caught. 
In my experience in this neighbourhood, the Buff Ermine (Spilosoma 
lubricepeda), Yellow Underwing (Triphena), and Silver Y (Plusia gamma), 
are more extensively eaten by bats than any other moths.—O. V. APLIN 
(Bloxham, Banbury). 
CETACEA. 
Delphinus albirostris in the River Colne.—On the 11th September 
last a man coming up the river Colne above Wyvenhoe, Essex, came upon 
seven Porpoises in the shallows of the river, the tide being out. He managed 
to drive one on shore, and plunged his pocket-knife into its chest as near as 
he could judge to the heart ; eventually killing it he brought it home. I soon 
after saw it, and found that it was a female specimen of the White-beaked 
Dolphin, Delphinus albirostris, measuring 6 ft. 5 in. in length. This I at 
once secured, and offered it to the British Museum, as I thought ita pity 
so good an example of this uncommon species should be destroyed. The 
Museum authorities having declined it, I suppose it must go to the 
