* THE LESSER HORSE-SHOE BAT 



THE LESSER HORSE-SHOE BAT. 



Rhinolophus hipposiderus, Blanford. 

 Plate i. 



Except in size — the expanse of wings measured 8| inches in the specimen 

 figured in the Plate — this Bat closely resembles the Greater Horse-shoe, 

 and was first discovered in England and shown to be a distinct species by 

 Montagu, who obtained examples in Wiltshire and later in Kent's Hole, 

 Torquay. Compared with its larger relation, two Lesser Horse-shoe Bats, 

 kindly sent to me by Mr. T. A. Coward for illustration in this book, were 

 duller in the colour of the fur, the underparts being of a very pale brownish 

 grey, and above a slightly darker shade of the same. 



In colour, the young is similar to the immature Greater Horse-shoe. 



The nasal ornaments, though resembling those of the larger species, differ 

 in some respects, as may be seen by referring to the tail-piece sketch. 



The eyes are very small and deeply set, more so than in the other, being 

 almost hidden in the fur. The teeth are the same in number. 



The Lesser Horse-shoe Bat inhabits Europe as far north as the Baltic 

 territories, ranging southwards to North and East Africa and eastwards to 

 Kashmir. 



In the British Islands it is confined to England, Wales, and Ireland, 

 being common in some parts of the latter country. 



The only Scottish record is not now considered reliable. 



Though recorded from as far north as Ripon, Yorkshire, it is not till we 

 come to the southern and south-western counties of England and various 

 localities in Wales that it becomes more general, and is often found associa- 

 ting with the Greater Horse-shoe in favourable situations. 



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