Nattereri), the notched-eared bat (V. emarginatus), perhaps introduced by a mistake of Geoffroy's, no British specimen being known; Daubenton's bat (V. Daubentonii), the whiskered bat (V. mystacinus), the long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus), the lesser long-eared bat (P. brevimanus), probably the young of the preceding; the barbastelle (Barbastellus Daubentonii), the greater horse-shoe bat (Rhinolophus ferriim-equinum), and the lesser horse-shoe bat (R. hipposideros).[1]
As may be anticipated, the bulk of Mr. Bell's observations on this interesting order of animals have been frequently before the public; the following passages are selected as containing matter that is either new or not generally known.
The pipistrelle, or common bat of Britain.
"There is one circumstance of considerable interest which I have observed in this species, which, I believe, has not ever been noticed, and which, it is probable, appertains also to others. It is the prehensile character of the extremity of the tail. A small portion of the tail in this and in most other species of this family is exserted beyond the margin of the interfemoral membrane. 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 surface, 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 I first observed the fact."—p. 27.
The long-eared bat.
- ↑ Mr. Gray in this country, and M. Selys de Longchamp on the continent, have lately introduced new specific characters of bats, derived from the mode in which the membrane is connected with the hind foot. As these characters appear likely to facilitate the distinguishing of species, they will be noticed at length in an early number of 'The Zoologist.'