TYPICAL BATS. 45 



which it skims in the evening in a manner not unlike that of a 

 Swallow by day. Thus, in describing the appearance of some 

 Bats which he believed referable to this species, the Rev. H. A. 

 Macphersou writes that "they flew actively over the water, 

 frequently dipping, sometmies two or three times in succession, 

 apparently feeding, their shadows being reflected as they hovered 

 over the water, and the motion of their wings recalling the flight 

 of the Common Sandpiper. They flew uniformly low over the 

 water. Sometimes one would approach the margin of the lake, 

 but they seemed to obtain most of their prey in the centre of 

 the latter." Generally making its appearance soon after sun- 

 set, this Bat, after hawking for a short time for flies and gnats, 

 usually returns to the shore to rest for a time before con- 

 tinuing its flight in quest of food. During the period of its 

 active life, its favourite haunts for repose are trees ; but, as we 

 have seen above, it may retire for its winter torpor to under- 

 ground or deserted chambers of old buildings. 



III. THE REDDISH-GREY BAT. VESPERTILIO NATTERERl. 



Vesperlilio uatUreri, Kuh], Deutsch. Flederm. p. 33 (181 7); 

 Bell, British Quadrupeds 2nd ed. p. 54 (1874) ; Dobson, 

 Cat. Chiroptera Brit. Mus. p. 307 (1878). 



{Plate IV.) 



Cliaracters. — This species brings us to the second or short- 

 footed group of the genus, in which the foot is of mod&'atc 

 size, measuring less than one-fourth the length of the fore-arm, 

 while the spur on the foot extends only about one-half the dis- 

 tance from the ankle to the tail. The present species may 

 be characterised as follows. — Earlet narrowing above, sharply 

 pointed, and curved outwards ; wings arising from the base of 

 the toes ; fur of neck and shoulders scarcely longer than that 

 of head and body ; ears longer than the head ; membrane 



