BRITISH MAMMALS 
Order CHEIROPTERA— BATS. 
Family RHINOLOPHID^. 
Genus Rhinolophus. 
THE GREATER HORSE-SHOE BAT. 
Rhinolophus ferrum-equinum (Schreber). 
Plate i. 
In beginning this short description of our British Bats, it would be 
well to consider first the chief distinguishing features of these aninials, 
by which the different species may be readily recognised. 
There are now known to be twelve distinct species inhabiting the 
British Islands, whilst a few others formerly on the list are now omitted, 
two having been wrongly identified, and the others apparently immigrants 
brought over from the Continent of Europe in vessels. 
The form of the ear, with its earlet or tragus placed at the doorway of 
this organ, the shape of the wings and interfemoral membrane, especially 
the point of attachment of the former at the ankle or toes, and also the 
number and character of the teeth, are all usefiil means of identification. 
The Greater and Lesser Horse-shoe belong to the group of "leaf-nosed" 
Bats, so named on account of the curious nasal appendage surrounding the 
nostrils, with a lancet-shaped extension over the forehead. 
These two species are the only representatives of their kind in the British 
Islands, though many others showing a wonderfiil variety in the form of the 
nose-leaf are found in various parts of the world. 
I. I * 
