CLASS MAMMALIA. 



SECTION L-MAMMALIA TEREESTRIA. 



OEDER I.— CHEIEOPTEEA. 



Fam ill) Vespertilionidce. 



The Coamox Bat or Pipistrelle, Vespertilio Pipistrellus, Geoff. 



Sout?^ '^ *^^ common bat of Ireland, and is abundant from North to 



I ha^■e examined specimens from all quarters of the island, since the 

 publication of the Kev. L. Jenyns' paper, in the 16th vol. of th^ LhiLan 

 Iransactions, on the subject of the common bat of Pennant 



/;/;! ^V°™°"/t'-'^' '^''^"^' ^'^ ^'^^" previously considered the Vesper- 

 tilio 3Iurinns of Lmnseus, and of recent continental authors. It is how- 

 ever the _ f Pipistrellus, as described by Mr. Jenj-ns, and figured bv 

 Geoffroy m the Ann. Mus. d' Hist. Nat. ; and is, consequentlv identical 

 with the common bat of Ens^land. > " if'equenuj , laentical 



In the summer evenings, I have more than once stood still within a 

 few yards of the bat, and looked with much interest on its pursuit of 

 moths, for the capture of which it is so admirably fitted. But I have 

 tW «.f "'' ''"'/'^°!^^'^' y surprised at the length of time required to effect 

 the seizure of a single insect, even when the bat was apparently using its 

 best exertions for that purpose. :>'*"» '"-^ 



A female of this species, which Mr. G. C. Hyndman retained for some 

 weeks m captivity, had, when taken (in the month of Julv), a ou^^ one 



atterwaids. Living flies or moths, when i)ut into the cage, were seized 

 by the parent bat with her mouth. She did not make use of the c W 

 in catching or holding them. After seizing such food, the bat bent her 

 head downwards, apparently with the view of preventing the escape of 

 the prey every portion of which was eaten, the wings not excepted This 

 captive drank plentifully of water, offered on the end of a S cr, ain^l 

 when catching at food, made a slight screaming noise. After bein^ ac- 

 customed to be fed, she uttered a kind of chirp, when expecting an "hing 



