144 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



a dozen may be seen there at once flying over the surface of 

 a large pond partly overhung with willows. It appears more 

 sensitive to cold than other Bats are ; on a slight fall in the 

 temperature not a single individual is to be seen out, sometimes 

 for days together. It comes abroad rather late in the evening. 



Plecotus auritus. — The Long-eared Bat is generally distributed 

 and fairly common, though I have never seen it in any abundance. 

 It is usually the last of the Bats to come abroad in the evening, 

 seldom appearing till it is nearly dark. From this circumstance 

 it might easily be overlooked were it not for its peculiar cry, 

 which differs considerably from that of all the other Bats with 

 which I am acquainted. I have only once seen this species 

 abroad before sunset. In Bell's ' British Quadrupeds ' (2nd ed.) 

 it is stated that "the Long-eared Bat appears to frequent open 

 country more than many other species." My own observations 

 in North Lincolnshire lead me to the conclusion that here, at 

 least, the reverse of this is the case, for I cannot recall a single 

 instance in which I have met with this Bat away from the 

 vicinity of trees or buildings. It generally flies low, amongst 

 the tree-trunks and branches, and appears to take its insect-food 

 from the bark and leaves rather than on the wing. The lime- 

 tree, when in flower, seems to afford it great attraction. 



I have reason to believe that there is at least one more 

 species to be added to this list, for I have frequently observed a 

 rather large dark-coloured Bat flying low over grass-land, so low 

 as only just to clear the higher stalks of grass. It moves heavily 

 with slow flaps of its wings, and is generally seen in the neighbour- 

 hood of trees. I hope that this may prove to be the Barbastelle, 

 but from its mode of flight it is difficult to obtain a specimen. 



The Whiskered Bat, mentioned by Lord Lilford (p. 66) as 

 occurring in Northamptonshire, and also recorded from Yorkshire 

 by Clarke and Eoebuck in their ' Handbook of Yorkshire Verte- 

 brates,' I have been unable to identify in Lincolnshire, though I 

 have looked for it carefully, and am well acquainted with the 

 species, which is not uncommon in some parts of North Wales. 



I hope Lincolnshire naturalists may be able to add to this 

 short list, for there may be several species as yet unrecorded. The 

 Whiskered Bat may possibly occur ; the Barbastelle, as stated 

 above, probably does so. It would also be interesting to hear of 

 other localities for Vespertilio nattcreri and V. datihentonii. 



