284 
BATS. 
foot, appear to be connected with the nature of their dwelling-places, the inhabit¬ 
ants of caves having larger feet more or less free from the membranes, while those 
living in woods have much smaller feet inclosed in the wing-membrane to the base 
of the toes.” The bats of this genus being of a more delicate organisation than 
the species of Vesperugo are less capable of withstanding the effects of cold, and 
have therefore a less northerly range than the latter. And in the countries 
where the bats of these two genera hibernate, those belonging to the present 
genus are later in awakening from their winter slumber than are the species of 
Vesperugo. 
Daubenton’s bat belongs to a group of the genus characterised by the large size 
daubenton’s bat (nat. size). 
of the feet, and also by the wing-membrane rising, as a rule, from the shin-bone or 
the ankle, as well as by the middle of the free margin of the membrane between 
the legs forming a very acute angle. Moreover, the tail has one or two joints 
projecting beyond the edge of the membrane last mentioned, and the spur arising 
from the ankle to support the same is of very great length. The wing-membrane 
extends below the ankle to the metatarsus; and the ears are characterised by 
their oval form, and are rather shorter than'the head. The length of the head and 
body is 2 inches, and the span of the wings 9 inches. The fur is brownish-black 
at the base, and usually reddish-brown on the upper-parts and ashy-grey below; 
although there is considerable individual variation in this respect. 
