152 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



It is not uncommon to find it in the day-time on the 

 ground, but this always happens when it is remote from 

 any culminating point. It suffers itself to be taken with- 

 out resistance, being overwhelmed by the fatigue of its 

 fruitless efforts to resume its flight, and regain its habi- 

 tation. 



There is a variety of the pipistrelle found in Egypt. It is 

 usually more of an ashen-colour ; the points of the hair are 

 of that tint. 



The vespertilio auritus, or great-eared bat, is designated 

 by Brisson, under the name of vespertilio minor, because it 

 is much smaller than the other. But as its ears are of an 

 excessive length, Linneeus changed its name into that of 

 auritus, desirous of translating the French name oreillard, 

 given to this bat, by Daubenton. Its ears almost as long 

 as the body, and re-united in the front, easily cause it to 

 be recognised among all the known species. It is but small 

 in size ; the muzzle is tolerably large ; its nostrils present 

 a singular peculiarity. After the nasal apertures, such as 

 they are found in all the vespertiliones, are two holes, or 

 rather two small purses. The ears are joined in front, a 

 little way up ; their interior edge is folded backwards ; 

 there are some hairs bordering the length of this fold, ex- 

 actly in the manner in which the eye-lashes are fixed on the 

 human eye-lids, ranged upon a single line. At the lower 

 part of this edge, is a small fold, which cuts it in an angle 

 of about 60°, and then proceeds, inwardly, towards the 

 origin of the auricula. The tail is also very remarkable 

 by its considerable length. The membrane of the wings is 

 the same which extends between the legs, and that to an 

 equal degree as in the wings ; these last, even in their ex- 

 tension, are somewhat folded or wrinkled, in consequence of 

 the numerous tendinous threads which are spread in the 

 interval between the upper and under membrane. 



The fur of the auritus is greyish-brown above, and ash- 



