150 COMMON BAT. Class I. 



to flvim along the furface of pieces of water, in 

 qucfl of gnats and infedls : thefe are not its only 

 food ; for it will eat meat of any kind that it hap- 

 pens to find hanging up in a larder. 



The bat brings only two young at a time; which 

 it fuckles from two teats placed on the bread, like 

 thofe of the human race. Thefe animals are capable 

 of being brought to fome degree of familiarity. The 

 Rev. Mr. White of Selborne has feen a bat fo far ta- 

 med as to eat infefts out of a perfon's hand -, and 

 while it was feeding would bring its wings round 

 before its mouth, hovering in the manner of birds 

 of prey. 



Towards the latter end of fummer, the bat re- 

 tires into caves, ruined buildings, the roofs of hou- 

 fes, or hollow trees; where it remains the whole 

 winter, in a ftate of inadion ; fufpended by the 

 hind-feet, and clofely wrapped up in the mem- 

 branes of the fore-feet. 



The voice of the bat is fomewhat like that of 

 the moufe ; but very low, and weak. Ovid takes 

 notice both of that, and the derivation of its Latin 

 name, 



Lucemque perof^ 

 Node volant, feroque tenent a vefpere nomen. 

 Minimam pro corpore vocem 

 Emittunt, peraguntque levi (Iridore querelas. 



Met, lib. iv. lo. 

 Their little bodies found 



No words, but murmur'd in a fainting found. 



In 



