Quadrupeds . 4361 



he has met with cannot be identical with the species described by 

 other writers on the subject, — e.g., supposing the specimens examined 

 by Mr. Bucton to closely resemble V. Daubentonii, in the latter the 

 wing-membranes are only attached as far as to the ancle, whilst in the 

 figure given by Baron de Selys Longchamps of the V. emarginatus 

 they are attached as far as to the base of the toes, a character which 

 has been considered by Mr. Gray of sufficient importance to be enti- 

 tled to generic distinction. 



Should this paper meet the eye of Mr. Bucton, will he allow me to 

 suggest the possibility of his having met with the V. dasycnemus of 

 continental writers — the V. lymnophilus of Temminck ? 



The species may be known from V. Daubentonii by being some- 

 what larger, grayer in colour, and with the feet still less engaged in 

 the membranes. I am not aware that it has been recorded as having 

 occurred in Great Britain, although it is common on many parts of 

 the Continent. 



Since writing the above it has occurred to me that at the time 

 Prof. Fleming wrote his ' British Animals,' our common little bat 

 V. pipistrellus was called V. murinus ; and hence his remark, that the 

 V. emarginatus might be confounded with it, is not so unlikely as at 

 first appears, — but even in this case it must be a very ordinary ob- 

 server who would confound the two, if they had specimens to examine. 

 In the V. emarginatus the tragus is elongated and pointed; in the V. 

 pipistrellus it is blunt. The first is a true Vespertilio ; the latter is 

 included in the Scotophilia of Leach. 



It would be occupying space unnecessarily were I to give the 

 descriptions of all these authors, particularly as some of them are 

 merely copies of each other : 1 propose, therefore, giving in the first 

 place a condensed description from the original one, with dimensions 

 from the figure, and then from such others as appear to have been 

 taken from specimens, and which appear to offer any remarkable 

 points of difference. 



Geoffroy. — Ears oblong, of the length of the head, and notched 

 at their outer edge. Tragus subulate. Above reddish gray, 

 below ash-coloured. Fur bicoloured, the reddish gray occupy- 

 ing half the length of the hair. Tips of the hairs of the belly 

 dirty white. 



The figure of the skull is of exactly the same dimensions and 

 proportions as the skull of V. mystacinus. 



