BRITISH MAMMALS 



This Bat was first discovered by the German naturalist Leisler and 

 described by Kuhl in 1819. 



It inhabits Europe and Asia, where it ranges eastwards to the Himalayas. 



In Great Britain, as far as at present known, its range seems very 

 limited. 



The late R. F. Tomes, in Bell's British Quadrupeds (2nd ed. p. 27), 

 notes " its not unfrequent appearance at various localities in the course of 

 the river Avoii, in the counties of Warwick, Worcester, and Gloucester." 

 Besides these localities it has been recorded from Cheshire by Mr. T. A. 

 Coward {Zoologist^ 1887, p. 169), whilst in the West Riding of Yorkshire it 

 appears to be plentiful near Barnsley. 



In Ireland it is a common Bat in many parts of the country, where it 

 takes the place of the Noctule. 



Mr. Whitaker, in the article already referred to in Wild Life (p. 79-80), 

 says " these bats may be seen hawking for food on mild evenings throughout 

 the whole season, spring, summer, and autumn. . . . 



" They fly along the low edge of the plantation and often make 

 digressions to a couple of large ash trees growing in an isolated position on 

 the boundary of my garden. Round and round these they will circle with 

 great persistence, snapping up moths, and doubtless other insects also, when- 

 ever they flutter out a few feet from the shelter of the foliage. Their flight 

 is stronger and more direct than that of the Pipistrelle, and usually at about 

 twice the altitude ; on the other hand it is not quite so high or strong as 

 that of the Noctule." The earliest and latest dates on which he noticed 

 the Bats abroad were March 3rd and November 9th. 



Leisler's Bat is a tree-haunting species, choosing for its den some cavity 

 in the trunk or branches, where it associates with others of its species 

 during the summer months. In winter, when hibernating, it is said to keep 

 apart from its fellows. 



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