ON SOME HABITS OF NATTERER'S BAT. 55 



when it was on the wing, although it would pass repeatedly over 

 my hand, hovering for an instant close to a struggling mealworm 

 in my fingers. It was never difficult to catch it when it had once 

 settled, for it did not seem to fear my hand, though it objected 

 to being held. When in the hand it continually uttered a sharp 

 cry ; it had two different notes, one — pitched much lower than 

 the other — was a low chatter rather than the usual high-pitched 

 cry of a Bat. 



At times it used the carpus to hold a struggling mealworm, 

 and would stand, when engaged in eating, with one wing slightly 

 raised, as if ready to hold its prey if it proved too powerful ; 

 it never used the thumb in any way to tear its prey. In its 

 normal position when feeding, its head was held rather low and 

 its shoulders were somewhat hunched up. When searching for 

 food or flying round, it either held its mouth open or chattered, 

 opening and shutting its mouth with great rapidity. 



The following are its measurements, taken immediately after 

 death : — 



Head and Body, 50 mm. 



Expanse (stretched), 242 mm. 



Forearm, 36 mm. 



Ear, 15 mm. 



Tragus, 10 mm. 



Hind foot and claw, 10 mm. 



Calcaneum, 17 mm. 

 Thumb, 6 mm. 

 2nd finger, 33 mm. 

 3rd finger, 62 mm. 

 4th finger, 51 mm. 

 5th finger, 50 mm. 



The lash of hair, so characteristic of the species, extends 

 from the termination of the calcaneum to the tip of the tail 

 along the edge of the interfemoral membrane. There are fine 

 hairs on the foot. The edge of the interfemoral membrane, 

 as well as the edge of the wing membrane, is puckered or 

 crenate : when the animal is at rest, the edge of the inter- 

 femoral membrane is slightly curved over, so that the lash 

 of hair is not conspicuous. The hairs of the back are dark 

 brown at the base, and reddish towards the tip ; on the belly 

 they are almost black at the base, and light grey or silvery-white 

 at the tip. The general colour of the upper surface is reddish- 

 grey, greyer on the nape and towards the tail. In life the under 

 surface of the body is very white. The sebaceous glands are not 

 prominent ; the snout is short, but well-defined ; the forehead 

 rises somewhat abruptly. The ears are long in comparison with 

 other species of Myotis. 



