deeply folded or reduplicated, and the extra- ordinary hollow behind the naked nose, ex- tending thence to the ears, are unmistakable. The hair is very dark, with a purple tinge, and so long as to be almost shaggy. A small ill- defined patch on the under-side near the root of the tail is nearly white.
In the Zoologist, 1874, p. 4128, Mr. Wil- liam Borrer records the barbastelle from South Weston (near Tetsworth), Oxfordshire, and from Hornsey, Middlesex, on either side of Bucks, the former place being only about 3¾ miles from Bucks. The late Lord Lilford received a solitary specimen from near Oundle in Northamptonshire in March 1 894 (Zoologist, 1894, p. 187).
3. Serotine. Vespertilio serotinus, Schreber.
BellScotophilus serotinus. The late Lord Lilford (Zoologist, 1887, p. 65) states that he had never succeeded in obtaining this species in Northamptonshire, but felt certain that it occurs occasionally near Lilford ; but as its mode of flight, general coloration, make, and extent of wings, very much resemble those of the noc- tule, it is impossible to speak positively with- out having handled a specimen in the flesh. He received examples from Sussex and Hamp- shire.
In Bucks I have frequently noticed ' rat- bats,' i.e. bats of the largest size,[1] of ob- viously different species, flying about at the same time. One species would be the noc- tule, and the serotine probably another.
[Parti-coloured Bat. Vespertilio murinus, Linn.
Mr. Oldfield Thomas considers this species only doubtfully British.]
4. Noctule (Great or White's Bat). Pipistrellus noctula, Schreber.
BellScotophilus noctula. WhiteVespertilk altivolans.
Common, and apparently universally dis- tributed in the county ; but essentially (so far as my own experience goes) a summer bat, very seldom appearing like some other species at odd times during every month of the year. At Great Marlow, noctules were always very common during August, but little seen after that month ; and though not absent, yet not specially in evidence during June or even July. One was found dead there in March, and I shot one at my present home on 30 September, which are somewhat unusual dates for meeting with this species. [2] I always supposed that their habitat at Great Marlow was the creeper-covered spire of St. Peter's (R. C.) church ; but as there were plenty of old elms, containing numerous large hollows, close to the river, both on our lawn, and especially at Court Garden, besides others a little further inland, it is more probable that some of these trees harboured them. Many years ago a large number of bats, probably this species, were found in a hollow poplar on our lawn at Great Marlow. I have an example stuffed, which was captured (by the butler) in a butterfly net on our lawn at Great Marlow, one August evening about the middle of the ' sixties ' ; and have since then obtained various others both at Great Marlow and at my present abode in Hamble- den parish. They appear to be more numer- ous at the former than at the latter place. The fur is reddish brown, occasionally light fawn red ; muzzle, ears and membranes, dusky. Hair on membranes, and along under- side of fore-arms.
[Hairy-armed Bat. Pipistrellus leisleri, Kuhl.]
5 . Pipistrelle. Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Schreber.
BellScotophilus piptstrellus.
Probably by far the commonest bat in Bucks ; it was so at Great Marlow, but at my farm near Hambleden I think the long- eared bat outnumbers it. As however it generally flies low, and largely frequents the vicinity of houses, and is abroad on many more days of the year and oftener by day- light than most other species, the pipistrelle is more noticeable and more readily captured, and therefore appears proportionately com- moner than it is in reality.
- ↑ The smaller species are known indiscriminately as 'bat-mice'
- ↑ Mr. T. Wolley however, writing in the Zoologist, 1845, p. 952, says : ' The Noctule does not retire for hibernation nearly so early in the autumn as it is generally said to do. I had long observed its late disappearance in the south of Buckinghamshire, where it is very abundant ; but I have more particularly watched it at Cambridge, and now for two seasons I have seen it throughout the first week in November. Both years my observations were put an end to by cold and stormy weather. This year (1845) I first saw it on the 2 5th of March, . . . it might have been about for several days previously.' Gilbert White, who first noticed this species in England, says (note to Letter XXVIII.) that he had never seen them ' till the end of April, nor after July. They are most common in June,'
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