LIST OF SPECIES.
Class MAMMALIA.
Order CHIROPTERA.
Sub-Order MICROCHIROPTERA, Dobson.
Family RHINOLOPHIDAE, Gray.
Sub-Family RHINOLOPHINAE, Dobson.
[Genus Rhinolophus, Geoffroy.
Rhinolophus ferrum-equinum, Schreb. Greater
Horse-shoe Bat.
This bat is stated in both editions of Bell's British
Quadrupeds and also in Cassell's Natural History, to occur at
Colchester. I believe, however, that some mistake was made
with regard to the locality of the specimens. The Horse-shoe
Bats are so distinct in flight, and so unmistakable in the hand,
that I do not think I am in error in affirming that neither
occurs in this district. This is the more remarkable when we
consider their abundance at Canterbury, but a short distance
south of Essex. They are also plentiful in the western
counties of England, and any number may be found in the
caverns in the Mendip Hills. It must not be supposed that
their absence from Essex is a question of climate, since they
occur much farther north. The smaller species, R. hipposideros,
has been taken in the neighbourhood of Ripon, in Yorkshire,
which is probably its northern limit.]
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