THE NOCTUIE. 
299 
lias been taken from a hole in the thatch of a low shed in a brick-field, another from a pile of hurdles 
in a stackyard, whilst a third was observed issuing from the spout of a disused wooden pump, and one 
was captured from behind a piece of loose bark on a pollard willow near Stratford-on-Avon.* The 
Pipistrelle is thus rather indiscriminate in its choice of a residence, and this may perhaps be due to the 
fact that its period of whiter torpidity is shorter than that of any other species found in the countries 
which it frequents. With us it makes its appearance on the wing as early as the middle of March, and 
does not retire for its annual sleep until the winter season has decidedly set in • indeed, Mr. Gould 
once shot a specimen in the middle of a bright sunny day just before Christinas. Its food consists 
principally of small insects, especially Gnats, Midges, and other small two-winged Hies, but it does not 
confine itself exclusively to such diet ; raw meat possesses such attractions for it that this Bat not 
unfrequentlv makes its way into places where this is kept, and may be found clinging to a, joint, and 
making a hearty meal upon it. In confinement, also, the Pipistrelle readily takes small pieces of raw 
meat as a substitute for its ordinary insect food, and it will become so tame as to take its nourishment 
from the fingers. On the ground the Pipistrelle runs with considerable ease and quickness, and Mr. 
Bell states, in opposition to the assertions of certain writers, that it can rise from a fiat surface without 
difficulty. He says: — “We have often seen the Pipistrelle rise from a plane surface with a sort of 
spring, instantly expand its wings, and take flight. This was repeated by a single individual several 
times in the course of an hour, and without the slightest appearance of difficulty or effort ; it was, on 
the contrary, evidently a natural and usual action.” The same writer remarks that this Bat climbs 
with considerable agility, and in connection with this notices a peculiarity in the use of the tail which 
appears to have escaped other observers, namely, that it is used as an organ of prehension. The last 
joint of the tail projects a little beyond the interfemoral membrane, and “not only does the animal 
employ the tail in horizontal progression, in which case it assists in throwing forward the body, by 
being brought into contact with the ground on either side alternately, corresponding with the action of 
the hinder foot on the same side ; but in ascending and descending a rough perpendicular suiface, this 
little caudal finger holds by any projecting point, and affords an evident support. This is particularly 
conspicuous when the Bat is traversing the wires of a cage, in which situation the fact was first 
observed.” 
THE NOCTULE.T 
The Great Bat, or Noctule, is another well-known British species, although far from being 
so abundant as the preceding. It is, however, even more widely distributed, being found in 
nearly all parts of the Eastern hemisphere, except the extreme north, but in tropical regions, 
according to Mr. Dobson, it seems to inhabit only the high 
grounds. In England it ranges as far north as Yorkshire. 
Its head and body measure about three inches in length, 
and its wings are about fourteen inches in expanse. Its fur 
is of a reddish-brown colour, nearly uniform throughout ; 
the ears are ovate-triangular, shorter than the head, broad, 
and having the outer margin produced down upon the 
cheek below the level of the angle of the mouth ; the ear- 
let is short, not more than one-third the length of the 
ear, broad, with the outer margin rounded and the inner 
•one concave. The wing -membranes reach only to the 
ankle-joint, and there is a distinct lobe outside each of the head or noctule. 
spurs. 
The Noctule seems to prefer for its resting-place the hollows of old trees, and generally to avoid 
buildings, although instances of its taking up its abode in or about the latter are not wanting. It is 
* Mr. R. McLacliIan, F. R.S. , has mentioned to the present miter an instance which fell within liis own experience 
of the dislodgment of a Bat from beneath a large piece of bark which was torn from a tree by an entomologist in search 
of Beetles or larvae. When, the baik was detached, the B.it fell, but the entomologist, being unprepared probably for such 
large game, omitted to secure it, and the species was not ascertained, 
f Vesperugo noctula. 
