VESPERS (Lat. vespere, in the evening), one of the canonical hours of the breviary, called also anciently lueernarium, from lueerna, a lamp. It is a service of very ancient use, being plainly referred to in the apostolical constitutions, and is noticeable as that one among the canonical hours which in the Roman Catholic church continues to be regularly sung as one of the ordinary public services of parish churches, no less than in cathedrals where the entire of the hours are chanted. It resembles lauds, and consists of five psalms and antiphons, a lesson, a hymn with versicle and response, a canticle {the magnificat), and a collect or prayer. The psalms sung at vespers are Ps. cix.—cxlvii., which are distributed over the several days of the week. The service of vespers has given occasion to some of the most brilliant efforts of modern musical composers. The
evening prayer of the English prayer-book corresponds partly with the vespers, with the compline (completorium) of the Roman breviary.
VESPERTILlONID/E, one of the four families of the insectivorous section of bats, comprising the ordinary bats of the old and new world, and distinguished by having a dentition much like that of other insectivorous mammals, the molar teeth being furnished with cusps adapted for crushing insects, and the incisors small. The nose has no leaf like appendages. The tail is elongated and inclosed in a large membrane extending between the thighs. The family has a wide range. embracing most of the species of northern temperate countries. It has been divided into about 20 genera, by far the most •ztensive of which is vespertilio. See BAT, ante, and Nocmiorurox.