ORDER CARNASSIER. 151 



It may be recognised by its oval and triangular eers, shorter 

 than the head. The auricula arched, and with a summit, 

 large and rounded. The hairs short ; fur bright-red above, 

 more dull underneath. 



It must not be confounded with the preceding species on 

 account of the similar disposition of the ears. It differs in 

 the auricula, which is shorter, arched, and terminated by a 

 large sort of head. Its ears are also more extended in 

 front, their anterior border falling in a line over the eye, 

 while, on the contrary, it is removed back a trifle in the 

 noctule. Besides which, the head of the serotine is shorter, 

 the forehead and muzzle considerably larger, and its hair 

 gives out a brilliant reflection from the upper part. 



The Pepistelle ( V. pepistellus) is another French bat, the 

 knowledge of which is owing to M. Daubenton; it is the 

 smallest of all. It resembles the noctule so strongly in colour 

 and proportions, that one might almost be tempted to consi- 

 der it as a juvenile specimen of that species. It differs, how- 

 ever, from the noctule, and that essentially. Its ears are of 

 a triangular oval shape, shorter than the head ; the auricula 

 is almost straight, and terminated by a roundish kind of 

 summit. Its hairs are long ; its fur of a blackish-brown above, 

 and brownish fawn-colour below. Thus the pipistrelle 

 differs from the noctule, not only in size, but also in the 

 auricula, which instead of being large at the base, and 

 pointed at the extremity, approaches more to the configu- 

 ration of that of the serotine. The colour of the hairs is 

 a decided brown-black, which proceeds from the hair being 

 black within, and fawn-colour only at the point. The 

 pipistrelle is also remarkable for its long tail, which is 

 very nearly as long as the body. Its cranium is also con- 

 siderably remote in form from those of the noctule and sero- 

 tine. The cerebral case is larger, more convex, and pro- 

 jects more beyond the forehead, and the occiput is rounded, 

 and without any crest. 



