NATURAL HISTORY 
298 
THE PIPISTRELLE.* 
Tlie commonest and most generally distributed of the British species is the Pipistrelle, t to- 
which the local country name of Flittermouse is considered by Mr. Bell to be specially applicable. 
In this and the allied species forming the genus Vesperuyo, the outer margin of the ear sweeps round 
on the cheek below the tragus, so as nearly to reach the angle of the mouth, and there is a small 
membranous lobe outside of the spur which runs from each heel into the interfemoral membrane. 
There are four incisor teeth in the upper and six in the lower jaw. 
The Pipistrelle is of a reddish-brown colour above, paler beneath. The ears are about two-tliirds 
PIl’ISTRELLE IN PLIGHT. 
of the length of the head, somewhat triangular, rounded at the tips, with the upper part of the outer 
margin deeply concave ; the earlet, or tragus, is nearly half as long as the ear, and is of an oblong form 
with the apex rounded ; the wings extend down to the base of the toes, and their membrane, like that 
of the ears, is of a dusky tint. 
This Bat seems to occur abundantly in all parts of the British islands. It is also common on the 
continent of Europe, as far north as the central parts of Sweden, and southwards to the shores of the 
Mediterranean, extending thence eastwards through Russia into Siberia and Central Asia, but not passing 
to the south of the Himalayas. It is essentially an inhabitant of temperate regions. Its favourite 
resting-places in this country, according to Mr. Jenyns, are the crevices of decayed brick walls, the 
cracks of old door-frames, and behind the pipes which are attached to buildings for carrying off rain-water ; 
and Mr. Bell describes it as taking shelter under the roofs of houses, and in crevices of buildings of 
every description, either inside or out. According to the second edition of Mr. Bell’s work, a specimen 
* Vesperuyo pipistrdlus. f A name derived from the Italian equivalent of the word u Bat.” 
