THE ZOOLOGIST, 



THIRD SERIES. 



Vol. XL] MAY, 1887. [No. J25. 



REMARKS ON BRITISH BATS. 

 By the Editor. 



Plate III. 



It is satisfactory to note the increased attention which is 

 being paid to the British Bats by several of our esteemed 

 correspondents. Respecting many of the species, indeed in 

 regard to the majority of them, it must be confessed there is 

 still a great deal to be learnt which time only will disclose ; but 

 should success attend our efforts to procure and figure from the 

 life every one of our British species in turn, so as to render their 

 appearance familiar to our readers, we may hope ere long with 

 their assistance to place on record a far more satisfactory account 

 of them than at present exists. 



According to the best authorities, there is reason to believe 

 that at least fifteen species of bats are to be found in the British 

 Islands, although in regard to one of them at least, Vespertilio 

 murinus, Schreber, the evidence of its occurrence in this country 

 is of an extremely slender character.* 



* In the second edition of Bell's ' British Quadi-npeds,' 1874, it is stated 

 (p. 49) that V. murinus " has hitherto only been taken in the gardens of the 

 British Museum," and the author adds that he has •' failed in meeting with 

 any other record of its appearance than that given, which is not altogether 

 satisfactory." Tn our annotated copy of this work we have a marginal note 

 to the effect that the following additional localities have been reported for 

 Vesjjertilio murinus, namely, Sherborne, Dorset (C. W. Dale), Epping 

 (Doubleday), and Freshwater, Isle of Wight (Hadfield) ; with the further 

 ZOOLOGIST. MAY, 1887. O 



