Ears shorter than the head, broad, triangular, notched on their external margins; tragus semicordate: fur black, with the tips of the hairs grayish white.

V. Barbastellus, Desm. Mammal, p. 145. Sow. Brit. Misc. pi. 5. Mont. Linn. Trans, vol. ix. p. 171.

Dimensions

Length of the head and body two inches; of the head seven lines and a half; of the tail one inch nine lines; of the ears five lines; of the tragus three lines and a half; breadth of the ears five lines; of the tragus one line and a half; length of the fore-arm one inch four lines and a half; of the thumb two lines and a half: extent of wing ten inches three lines.

Description

Muzzle short and obtuse, somewhat swollen at the extremity ; a naked space above the nose extending up to the ears, sunk and hollowed out in front, with the nostrils placed in the cavity; on each side of the face above the upper lip a large protuberant swelling covered with black hair: eyes very small, placed within the auricle and almost concealed: ears united over the head, oval-triangular, as broad as long, externally hairy, and notched on their outer margins; tragus semicordate, very protuberant near the base of the external margin, above which it suddenly bends inward and terminates in a point; inner margin straight. Fur very long and silky, particularly on the top of the head behind the ears, blackish brown, with the tips of the hairs silvery gray on the upper parts, and ash-coloured beneath; flying and interfemoral membranes dusky.

A rare species. Has occurred in Devonshire, Kent, Northamptonshire, and Cambridgeshire. Habits more diurnal than usual with this family. Flight slow and near the ground. Resorts to buildings for retirement.