68 VESPERTTLIONID^. 



was sent from the chalk cavern at Chiselhurst in Kent, 

 and the illustrations which accompanied the description 

 in the first edition, taken from this specimen, were, we 

 believe, the first which appeared of this species. It has, 

 however, since that time been figured both by M. Tem- 

 minck and by Prof. Blasius. 



The Whiskered Bat, although not rare in this country, 

 is seldom seen in any numbers, which is due in great 

 measure to its solitary habits. It may, indeed, be some- 

 times seen in sufficient abundance to lead to the belief 

 that it is somewhat gregarious, but it will be found, on 

 further examination, that it is supply of food, or shelter, 

 which brings them together, rather than desire for each 

 other's company. Its flight resembles pretty closely 

 that of the Pipistrelle, and it frequents nearly the same 

 situations, but we have often noticed a slight difierence, 

 viz., that while the present species prefers the sheltered 

 side of a high hedge to any other place, the Pipistrelle 

 will rather choose as its hunting-ground a quiet corner 

 between trees or buildings. However, it would be dif- 

 ficult to distinguish the two species by their choice of 

 nocturnal haunts ; and their places of repose are even 

 more alike. In all sorts of hiding-places the Whiskered 

 Bat may be found during the day, and generally singly. 

 Holes in walls, roofs of houses and other buildings, or 

 the spaces behind shutters or sign-boards, will serve very 

 well for a resting-place during its hours of repose, and it 

 does not refuse a convenient hole or crevice in a tree, 

 nor even an auger-hole in an old unused gate-post, 

 which situation we have known one occupy for some 

 time. It is also a frequenter of caverns, as already 

 mentioned, at Colchester and Chiselhurst ; and we have 

 known it taken from others excavated for the purpose of 

 obtaining gypsum, on the estate of Sir R. Throckmorton, 



