The Reddish-grey Bat, or Natterer’s Bat (Vespertilio Nattereri), is an undoubted native of this country, although it appears to be local in its distribution. It has been taken near London, at Swaffham in Cambridgeshire, at Colchester and Norwich, at Chislehurst (hibernating in a chalk cavern), and at Arrow, near Alcester, in Warwickshire. It has also occurred in Ireland. It inhabits the continent of Europe from the Ural Mountains westward to Belgium and France, and in the south occurs on the shores of the Mediterranean. Apparently its range does not extend into Asia.
Natterer’s Bat has the fur reddish-grey above, and whitish beneath, the hairs of which it is composed being dark towards the base, with light tips. The ears are oblong-ovate, and about as long as the head, and the tragus is nearly two-thirds the length of the ear; but the most distinctive character of the species consists in the margin of the interfemoral membrane, from the tips of the spurs to that of the tail, being fringed with a row of long stiff hairs. In its social habits this Bat seems to agree with the Mouse-coloured Bat, but is much more amiable in its disposition. Specimens received by Mr. Bell from a cavern in the chalk at Chislehurst (where they were found hibernating in company with several other species) were kept alive for a time by feeding them on bits of raw meat, and exhibited “great familiarity of disposition, not only by their friendliness towards their companions, but by their readiness in taking food from the hand, and in allowing themselves to be interfered with without evincing fear or anger.” These Bats were active in their habits, running and climbing about the cage with great agility. The sociability of character of Natterer’s Bat is still more strikingly shown by the curious description given in the second edition of Bell’s “British Quadrupeds” of a colony observed in the roof of Arrow Church, near Alcester. In a dark retreat, between the ceiling of the church and the tiled roof, “the Bats were seen adhering, by all their extremities, to the under surface of the row of tiles which forms the crest or ridge of the roof (partly supported, however, by the upper tier of roof-tiles on which the ridge-tiles rested), and others clinging to them, until a mass was made up three or four inches thick, six or seven wide, and about four feet in length. It would be wrong to call this their place of repose, as they presented a most singular scene of activity, the constant endeavour of those outside being to penetrate the mass, probably for warmth; and to do this they were continually poking their noses between those nearest to them, and then forcing in their bodies, to be in their turn again pushed to the outside. In this manner a regular bickering was kept up in the whole mass. However, they seemed to be very gentle, and to have no idea of biting or otherwise annoying each other.”
DAUBENTON’S BAT.[200]
Daubenton’s Bat is another species which is almost confined to Europe. It is generally distributed over that continent from Finland and the Ural Mountains to Ireland and the Mediterranean, but is only of doubtful occurrence in North-western Asia. It is about two inches in length; its ears are about three-fourths the length of the head, oval, with the outer margin sinuated, and the inner margin folded in; the tragus is narrow, rather obtuse at the apex, and about half the length of the ear; the tail is longer than the body; the fur is usually reddish-brown, but sometimes dark brown or greyish-brown above, and ash-grey beneath; and the wing-membranes show a slight reddish tinge.
The habits of this Bat are very peculiar. It usually takes up its residence in church-towers and other buildings, but sometimes in hollow trees, and always in the vicinity of water, its active life being passed in flying over the surface of water. Its flight is not very rapid, and is performed by means of very slight but rapid strokes of the wings. It flies usually close to the surface, and from time to time dips its nose into the water, probably for the purpose of drinking. This Bat is gregarious in its habits, great flocks being generally seen flying about together, and considerable numbers always inhabit the same retreat. In confinement it seems to be very delicate, and does not live long; but it is quiet and gentle in its behaviour, and will drink milk from the palm of the hand, and feed upon small pieces of meat and house flies. The latter, according to Mr. Bell’s editors, are favourite morsels with these Bats, and “it was curious,” they say, “to see them poke their little noses between the fingers for flies which were concealed there. A fly put on a smooth table was always a tempting but tantalising bait for them, for the Bats, in attempting to take hold of it, almost invariably pushed it to the outside of the table, from which it fell and was lost.” In Britain, Daubenton’s Bat has been taken in various localities, extending as far north as Aberdeenshire; and in Ireland it has occurred in Donegal and Kildare.
THE WHISKERED BAT.[201]
The Whiskered Bat inhabits all Central Europe from the Alps to Finland, and from Russia to Ireland. It is also found among the Himalayas, and is said by Schrenck to occur in the Amoor country, so that its distribution in Asia is probably rather wide. In England its occurrence has been recorded in Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, and Warwickshire, at Colchester and at Chislehurst, and in Ireland in the county of Clare. The Whiskered Bat is a small species, the head and body measuring only one inch and two-thirds in length. Its colour is dark chestnut-brown above, ashy-brown beneath; the ears bend outwards and have the outer margin notched; the tragus is half the length of the ear; the face is very hairy, and the hairs on the upper lip are longer than the rest, so as to form a moustache, whence the name of the species. This Bat is solitary, being generally found singly in its resting-places, which consist of holes in walls, the roofs of houses, and, in general, any dark crevice or corner. It resembles the Pipistrelle in its flight and general habits, and is doubtless often mistaken for that species.[202]
THE BLACK AND ORANGE BAT.[203]
This species, which has been referred by various authors to different genera, is especially remarkable for its peculiar coloration. The muzzle is of a conical form; the ears ovate, with the rounded tips projecting outwards, so as to render the outer margin concave for some distance; the tragus long, narrow, and obtusely pointed; the fur is soft and thick, of a reddish-yellow colour above, and pale yellowish beneath; and the wing-membranes, which are very broad, are singularly variegated with bright orange and brownish-black. The dark portions form irregularly triangular patches on the membranes between the second and third and third and fourth fingers, and between the fourth finger and a line drawn from the wrist to the ankle. All the rest of the membrane, including the ears and interfemoral membrane, are orange, this colour forming narrow bands along the course of the fingers, and also extending more or less in the form of specks and streaks over the dark patches. The length of the head and body in this Bat is from two inches and a third to two inches and a half, and the expanse of the wings twelve inches and a half. It is found in the Himalayan region in Nepaul and at Darjeling, in the Khasia Hills, and in China at Shanghai, Kiang, and Amoy.
