8 CHEIROPTERA. 



Subgenus 3. Babbastelltts. — Grinders 4 above, 4 below, 

 on each side ; ears moderate, united at the base above the 

 eyes ; a flat naked space on the forehead, surrounded by a 

 membranous edge. 



Subgenus 1. Vespertilio. 



Vespertilio Noctula. 



Vespertilio Noctula, Desm. Mamm. Sp. 204 ; Bell, Brit. Quad. ; Temm. 

 Monog. vol. ii. p. 169 ; Buow. Faun. Ital. (figured). 



Description. — Two false molars on each side, above and 

 below. Head very broad ; muzzle short and thick in adults, 

 somewhat elongated in the young ; nostrils tumid at the 

 edges, slightly bilobate ; forehead very hairy, rest of the 

 face almost naked; ears shorter than the head, somewhat 

 triangular, rounded at the extremity, the posterior margin 

 folded back with a projecting ridge internally, and a small 

 protuberance at the base, which extends round nearly to 

 the corners of the mouth ; tragus very small, ending above 

 in a broad round head. Fur rather short,, but soft and 

 thick, of a uniform reddish brown above and below ; mem- 

 branes dusky, with a ridge of hair along the bones of the 

 arm. Tail shorter than the fore-arm, reaching 11 line be- 

 yond the membrane. 



Length of head and body, 2 inches 11 lines; head, 10 

 lines ; tail, 1 inch 8, lines ; ears, 7^ lines ; tragus, 21 lines ; 

 breadth of ears, 6 lines ; of tragus, 1-1- line ; length of the 

 fore-arm, 2 inches; of the thumb, 2\ lines; extent of wings, 

 14 inches. 



Is found in almost every country of Europe. Eare in 

 England and in Prance. More common in Germany. 

 Pallas describes it as met with everywhere in Eussia, but 

 in greatest plenty on the shores of the Caspian, where it 

 feeds on the gnats which abound there : common in the 



