CLASS MAMMALIA.
35
chimneys and walls of houses. I never remember to have
found another species hybernating with it.
Vesperugo pipistrellus, Keys and Blas. Common Bat.
This bat, a small imitation of the Noctule, is extremely
common in all parts of the kingdom, and is probably the
commonest of the order. It is found, of course, at Epping,
and appears in Mr. Doubleday's list (Zool., 1843, p. 6).
It is on the wing, in mild seasons, almost up to Christmas,
when it finally retires for its winter sleep, choosing, almost
invariably, for its home holes in and about buildings. Its
flight, unlike that of its larger relative, is low, and well
suggested by its vulgar name," Flitter-mouse." The sheltered
sides of buildings, or hedges, are its favourite hunting-
grounds—no doubt in consequence of its food (gnats and
small insects) seeking a like protection from the wind.
It sallies forth earlier and retires later than any other
bat, and is the species most frequently seen flying by day.
Genus Vespertilio, Keys and Blas.
Vespertilio daubentonii, Leisler. Daubenton's Bat.
Mr. E. Newman (The Field, Mar. 14th, 1874, p. 263),
quoting from a letter of Doubleday's, says that he has seen
this bat caught between Epping and Abridge, and has noticed
it flying over the Stour at Sudbury, close to the water. In
the Colchester district, it is not rare. In winter, I have
found it, as did Yarrell, under the Castle at Colchester. Its
usual habitat, when at rest, is in buildings.
It has one character by which it may easily be dis-
tinguished : viz., the wing membrane, which extends only to
the distal extremity of the tibia, leaving the foot free. In the
other species, the membrane is usually continued to the root
of the toes. Daubenton's Bat has been well described as an