SCOTOPHILUS PUMILUS, Gray.
Little Bat.
Scotophilus pumilus, Gray in App. to Grey's Two Exp. in N.W. Australia, vol. ii. p. 406.—lb. List of Mamm. in Brit. Mus., p. 30.
Although the Vespertilionidæ are fairly represented in Australia, the species inhabiting that country are not very numerous. The Bat here represented is certainly one of the very least of the Australian members of the family, for it scarcely exceeds in size the European Pipistrelle. It was my usual practice when travelling in Australia to look around me during the last half-hour of daylight for Bats, at which to discharge the contents of my gun before retiring to my tent, and by this means several species were collected, which might otherwise even now he unknown in Europe. It was not, however, always necessary to shoot this little animal, for it is very tame, and my black attendants often amused themselves by cutting it down with a switch as it passed before them, or rapidly skimmed over the water, a frequent habit with it. I found it especially abundant on the upper part of the River Hunter, particularly on the banks of the rivulets descending from the mountain ranges.
I have never heard of the Scotophilus pumilus being collected by any one but myself, and I regret to say that I am unable to give any details as to its habits and economy.
Fur of the upper surface greyish-brown, and of a darker or blackish hue at the base; under surface paler; cheeks blackish; wing-membranes purplish-brown.
The figures are of the natural size.
