BRITISH BATS (Chieopteea). 



BY ME. GOEDON DALGLIESH. 



The habits of Bats are, comparatively speaking, very little 

 known, and for anyone interested in the subject there is a wide 

 field for original observations, and also being one of the most 

 interesting orders of Mammalia, should be studied whenever 

 the opportunity occurs. All Bats are nocturnal, issuing forth 

 from their retreats at sunset to feed. Bats are chiefly 

 insectivorous, all our British species are so, though some kinds, 

 such as the so-called " Flying Foxes " (Pteropodidce) feed on 

 fruit ; others again, being carnivorous in their tastes, the 

 Vampires of South America and the Indian Megaderma lyra, 

 the latter sometimes making a meal off its smaller relations ; 

 and I once had a whole cageful of small birds devoured by 

 this species. During the winter months all our British Bats 

 hibernate and become torpid, occasionally waking tip on a 

 mild day to come out and feed. The eyes of Bats for the 

 most part are very small, and in consequence their vision is 

 limited, but their sense of hearing and feeling is very acute. 

 Bats are found all over the globe, being most abundant in 

 warm and Tropical climates. There are 15 species of British 

 Bats ; three of these, however, are extremely rare, and have a 

 doubtful claim to rank in our British Fauna. 



The Greater Horseshoe Bat (RMnolophus ferrum equinum).— This 

 bat as well as the next species derive both their scientific and 

 popular name from a curious leaf -like process of skin round the 

 nostrils, by means of which they can at once be distinguished from 

 any other British Bat. The nose leaf is regarded as a sensitive 

 organ of perception. The Greater Horseshoe Bat comes out rather 

 early in the evening and flies high. It frequents caves and old 

 houses during the day. When I was in Guernsey I was shown a 

 number of specimens that had been taken from a wine cellar some- 

 where in the Bordage. Some of these are now in the Guille-Alles 

 Museum. The length of this bat is, head and body 2J inches. 

 Tail U inch. 



The Lesser Horseshoe Bat (Bhi)iolophus Mpposiderus) — This Bat can 

 be distinguished from the last by its smaller size, which is only head 

 and body about lh inch. Tail 1| inch. The general colour of the 

 upper parts is " drab," the lower parts " smoke grey/' In habits it 

 resembles the last-named species, though it flies higher, and is not 

 so partial to the neighbourhood of trees. It is not so common as 

 JR. ferrum eqidnum. 



