bdz :[t*«>c. S.N.F .C. 



20 March. 



CANON W. H. LETT, M.A.— " THE OCCURRENCE OF 

 NVTTERER'S BAT AND THE WHISKERED BAT 

 IN CO. DOWN." 



After stating all that was known of Irish Bats in Thompson's 

 time, the writer noticed the more recent discoveries and studies 

 of Messrs. Hartmg, Kinahan, Jameson, Moffat and Dr. Aicock. 

 His own experience of Bats began half a century ago, but it 

 was only recently that he became acquainted with any species 

 other thim the long-eared and common Bats. Having given 

 interesting particulars of the large numbers of common Bats to 

 be found near Lough Neagh — where this species became quite 

 a nuisance — the writer continued : — " In the last week of June, 

 " 1897, I captured, in Aghaderg Glebe House, Co. Down, a 

 " reddish-grey coloured Bat, which turned out to be of the 

 *' species known as Natterer's Bat. It was flying about a bed- 

 £i room in the dusk, where, unlike the common or long-eared 

 " Bat, it made a considerable noise in flying against objects 

 " and knocked down some small articles in the room. When 

 "I had it in my hand I noticed its light colour, and that its 

 ''squeaking was louder than that emitted by the other bats I 

 " had met with. The specimen was sent to the Manchester 

 u Museum, where Mr. J. Ray Hardy kindly identified it. This 

 " little animal is scarce, and has hitherto in Ireland been found 

 " in Donegal, Fermanagh, Louth, Longford, Galvvay, Wicklow 

 " and Cork. 



"Just 12 months ago— in March, 1899 — mv man found a 

 " bat one morning clinging to the outside wall of my green- 

 " house. This bat is about the size of the Common Bat. I 

 " noticed its face as clothed with more fur than in other bats, 

 "and from this and the peculiar form of the free diamond- 

 *' shaped lobe of its ears I identified it as a Whiskered Bat. I 

 " sent the specimen the same day to Dr. Aicock, who at once 

 {< wrote confirming my discovery, and congratulating me on 



