Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 1 (1843).djvu/94

Nattereri), the notched-eared bat (V. emarginatus), perhaps introduced by a mistake of Geoffroy's, no British specimen being known; Daubenton's bat (V. Daubentonii), the whiskered bat (V. mystacinus), the long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus), the lesser long-eared bat (P. brevimanus), probably the young of the preceding; the barbastelle (Barbastellus Daubentonii), the greater horse-shoe bat (Rhinolophus ferriim-equinum), and the lesser horse-shoe bat (R. hipposideros).^[1]

As may be anticipated, the bulk of Mr. Bell's observations on this interesting order of animals have been frequently before the public; the following passages are selected as containing matter that is either new or not generally known.

The pipistrelle, or common bat of Britain.

"There is one circumstance of considerable interest which I have observed in this species, which, I believe, has not ever been noticed, and which, it is probable, appertains also to others. It is the prehensile character of the extremity of the tail. A small portion of the tail in this and in most other species of this family is exserted beyond the margin of the interfemoral membrane. Not only does the animal employ the tail in horizontal progression—in which case it assists in throwing forward the body, by being brought into contact with the ground on either side alternately, corresponding with the action of the hinder foot on the same side,—but in ascending and descending a rough perpendicular surface, this little caudal finger holds by any projecting point, and affords an evident support. This is particularly conspicuous when the bat is traversing the wires of a cage, in which situation I first observed the fact."—p. 27.

The long-eared bat.

"It is one of the most common of our British bats; and the extraordinary development of the ears, their beautiful transparency, and the elegant curves into which they are thrown at the will of the animal, render it by far the most pleasing: it is also more readily tamed than any other, and may soon be brought to exhibit a considerable degree of familiarity with those who feed and caress it. I have frequently watched them when in confinement, and have observed them to be bold and familiar even from the first. They are very cleanly; not only cleaning themselves after feeding, and at other times, with great assiduity, but occasionally assisting each other in this office. They are very playful too, and their gambols are not the less amusing from their awkwardness. They run over and against each other, pretending to bite, but never harming their companions of the same species; though I have seen them exhibit a sad spirit of persecution to an unfortunate barbastelle which was placed in the same cage with them. They may be readily brought to eat from the hand; and my friend Mr. James Sowerby had one during last summer, which, when at liberty in the parlour, would fly to the hand of any of the young people who held up a fly towards it, and

---

1. Mr. Gray in this country, and M. Selys de Longchamp on the continent, have lately introduced new specific characters of bats, derived from the mode in which the membrane is connected with the hind foot. As these characters appear likely to facilitate the distinguishing of species, they will be noticed at length in an early number of 'The Zoologist.'