CLASS MAMMALIA. 
SECTION I.— MAMMALIA TERRESTRIA. 
ORDER I.— CHEIROPTERA. 
Family Vespertilionidce. 
The Common Bat or Pipistrelle, Vespertilio Pipistrellus, Geoff. 
This is the common bat of Ireland, and is abundant from North to 
South. 
I have examined specimens from all quarters of the island, since the 
publication of the Rev. L. Jenyns’ paper, in the 16th vol. of the Linnsean 
Transactions, on the subject of the common bat of Pennant. 
The common Irish species had been previously considered the Vesper- 
tilio Murinus of Linnaeus, and of recent continental authors. It is, how- 
ever, the V. Pipistrellus , as described by Mr. Jenyns, and figured by 
Geoffroy in the Ann. Mus. d’ Hist. Nat. ; and is, consequently, identical 
with the common bat of England. 
In the summer evenings, I have more than once stood still within a 
few yards of the bat, and looked with much interest on its pursuit of 
moths, for the capture of which it is so admirably fitted. But I have 
also been occasionally surprised at the length of time required to effect 
the seizure of a single insect, even when the bat was apparently using its 
best exertions for that purpose. 
A female of this species, which Mr. G. C. Hyndman retained for some 
weeks in captivity, had, when taken (in the month of July), a young one 
clinging to the teat, which position it retained until its death, two days 
afterwards. Living flies or moths, when put into the cage, were seized 
by the parent bat with her mouth. She did not make use of the claws 
in catching or holding them. After seizing such food, the bat bent her 
head downwards, apparently with the view of preventing the escape of 
the prey, every portion of which was eaten, the wings not excepted. This 
captive drank plentifully of water, offered on the end of a feather, and, 
when catching at food, made a slight screaming noise. After being ac- 
customed to be fed, she uttered a kind of chirp, when expecting anything. 
Scraps of raw beef or mutton were eaten readily, if quite fresh and juicy, 
but not otherwise. 
B 
