BRITISH BATS. 335 



hawking for food during a mild afternoon in winter. Old buildings 

 and under the eaves of houses are the favourite haunts of this Bat, 

 though it frequents the neighbourhood of trees to feed. They may- 

 be often attracted by a handkerchief thrown into the air, as I myself 

 have witnessed many a time. It is said to produce but a single 

 young one at a birth. Length of head and body If of an inch. 



Daubenton's Bat {Myotis daubentoni). — Daubenton's, or as_ it is some- 

 times called, the Water Bat, on account of its partiality for the 

 neighbourhood of water, is a somewhat local species in Britain. It 

 is fairly common in Warwickshire and is found as far north as 

 Banff. The general colour is brown above and dirty white beneath. 

 The face in front of the eyes is partially devoid of hair. The hind 

 feet are rather large. Length of head and body 1 9-10ths ; tail If 

 inch. 



Natterer'S Bat {Myotis nattereri). —This Bat may at once be known by 

 the membrane connecting the hind legs with its posterior margin 

 (known as the interfemoral membrane) being fringed with stiff 

 hairs. The fur is very long and thick, the upper parts being " hair 

 brown," lower parts a dirty white. Length of head and body 

 1 4-5ths inch ; tail the same, batterer's Bat is another local 

 species, though it is far from rare ; it cannot be considered common. 

 It can be readily known on the wing by the light colour of the 

 under fur, which is most conspicuous. It is gregarious in its habits, 

 associating in large numbers in some places. It generally passes 

 away the hours of daylight in roofs, caverns, or church towers. 



Beehstein's Bat {Myotis bechsteini). — Bechstein's Bat, so far as is 

 known, has only occurred twice in Britain. Two specimens were 

 taken in the New Forest many years ago, and a single example was 

 caught by Mr. J. Gr. Millais at Henley-on-Thames in 1902. As there 

 is always the chance of its turning up again, I give the following 

 description of it : — 



The ears are oval and much longer than the head ; the mem- 

 brane connecting the hind legs being devoid of hair; the upper 

 parts of the body are light reddish brown, the lower parts are 

 greyish white. Length of head and body 2 inches ; tail 1*5 ; forearm 

 1*55. It is said to be a solitary species, dwelling in hollow trees in 

 the middle of dense woods. 



The Mouse-Coloured Bat {Myotis myotis).— This is another extremely 

 rare species, its sole claim to rank as British being based on 

 the evidence of some specimens, curiously enough, taken in the 

 grounds of the British Museum, and one specimen taken in 

 Cambridge 15 years ago. This Bat is very common on the Continent 

 and is not unlikely to occur in the Channel Islands. In case this 

 Bat should be taken there I give a description of it, so as to help its 

 captor to identify it : — 



Size large ; ears large ; tips bluntly pointed ; extreme tip of tail 

 projecting beyond the edge of the membrane connecting the hind 

 legs. Head and back " hair brown," darker on the shoulders ; 

 under parts " smoke grey "' with the exception of a line running 

 from the chest nearly to the vent which is white, or greyish white. 

 Length of an adult specimen taken in millimetres : Head and body, 

 79 ; tail, 52 ; H. F. 11 ; ear, 28 ; forearm, 65. If any Member of 

 the Society should capture a Bat answering to the above des- 

 cription, he is recommended to preserve the skin and send it 

 to the British Museum for identification. 



The Roug'h-legged Bat {Myotis dasycneme).—A single example of 

 this Bat was taken by Lord Lilford on the banks of the Stour, 



