Scarlet colured bats in UK?

[Richard Muirhead]

The other day at a local County Record Office near where I live I came across a record in an old scrapbook,from a newspaper report in the 1880s I think it was of a scarlet coloured bat which escaped from a plank of wood which was being cut. I also found another report of a scarlet bat which flew out of a pear tree which was being cut.One of these events took place in Scotland the other in Cheshire.

Does anyone have any idea what these scarlets bats where or any other records?
Thanks Richard

P.S I do have further details which I am publishing next February.

[Dogghound]

Some species are quite a rich brown going on ginger like Noctule which are found in trees and wood. No European species are scarlet in colour.

[thunder]

Possibly, since both instances refer to the timber being cut, the bats were covered in blood from one or more of their comrades that were not able to escape. I have heard terrible tales of blood soaked chainsaw massacres in more modern times.

henrya

[The Woodman]

A vernacular name for one of our species, the Natterer's bat, is the "red armed bat" due to the colour of its forearms. Whilst this is certainly true, I wouldn't call it scarlet or describe the bat as of that colour.

As Dogghound has said, there are no scarlet bats in the UK, other species for example with descriptive names as the North American Red Bat (which I've seen) and Desert Red bat are no more "red" than our Noctule in my eyes.

Apart from the blooded scenario that thunder mentions, there are few reasons I can think of as to how this descriptive colour occurred. Fur soaked with the sap of a freshly felled Alder would struggle to fit the description.

In the 1880's most planks were cut with pit saws that involved a major amount of man handling, rolling, levering and chocking. It would be hard to imagine an under bark roosting bat ever making it to the saw pit, one roosting in a cavity or fissure might just remain in situ.

Can you tell us where we might find your publication next year, Richard? Can you reveal your further details?

[nightshade]

Which county do you live in Richard? Scarlet is used to describe a few local colour
variations and even morals
What are you publishing? do I need to start saving my pocket money, can I get it on Kindle?

[Richard Muirhead]

Hi

I live in Cheshire.The publication is called `Flying Snake` and is available via Flying Snake Magazine web-site which is my journal of cryptozoology,Forteana and folklore. I intend to publish this information in issue 3 next February. My source is a Manchester paper from c.1888 other than that I want to keep this rather unique news (to me anyway) semi secret `til Feb. In fact I`ve already told you most of what I know.

Thanks for all your help so far!
Rich

[nightshade]

I get the feeling that this is a shameless bit of advertising, interesting as it is

[The Woodman]

Maybe, nightshade, but we did ask for it!

[Richard Muirhead]

It is not a shameless piece of advertising. Type in Flying Snake in Google and you will see the magazine exists, then buy the issue in February and you will see the magazine and the story. The reason I posted the story was to see if I could find out more information. I expect an apology in Feb.

[Richard Muirhead]

Please allow me to apologise and explain. Firstly, if it appeared I was self promoting my magazine,then I apologise.I needn`t have mentioned my magazine at all. However, the story about the scarlet bats is true,I didn`t want to tell the whole story yet because I do want the whole story to appear as a kind of "unique" story that as far as I know has not appeared anywhere else. And if any Forum could help I thought this one would, which I joined a year or so ago.

I`ll give the whole details in February along with newspaper title and date. And if I don`t you can treat me with the disdain I will deserve.