120 THE BARBASTELLE. 
plentiful in this country, although specimens have several times been taken in various parts 
of England. It is a singular coincidence that the first acknowledged British specimen was 
captured in a powder mill, as was the case with the Great Horseshoe Bat. 
One of these animals which was for some weeks in the possession of Mr. Bell, was 
taken in Kent, at the bottom of a mine seventy feet in depth. It did not seem to 
be so active as some Long-Eared and other bats which were taken in the same locality, 
and preferred lying on the hearth-ruge to using its wings. It fed readily on meat and 
would drink water, but never became so tame as its companions. Its captive life lasted 
only a few weeks, its death being apparently hastened by the attacks of the other bats, 
one of which was detected in the very act of inflicting a bite on the Barbastelle’s neck. 
The colour of the Barbastelle is extremely dark, so much so, indeed, that by depth of 
tint alone it can be distinguished from any other British bat. On the hinder quarters, 
a rusty brown takes the place of the brownish-black hue which characterizes the fore- 
part of the body. Underneath, the hair is nearly grey, being, however, much darker 
towards the neck. 
The length of its head and hody is just two inches, that of the ears half an inch, and 
BARBASTELLE.—Barvastellus comminis. 
* 
the expanse of wing measures between ten and eleven inches. The ears are tolerably 
large, and slightly wrinkled. The tragus is sharply pointed at its tip, and widened at its 
base. <A full view of the face shows a rather deep notch in the outer margin and near 
the base of the ear. 
The engraving represents the Barbastelle as walking on a level surface, and exhibits 
the strangely awkward mode by which these animals achieve terrestrial progression. 
One of the most common, and at the same time the most elegant, of the British 
Cheiroptera, is the well-known LonG-EARED Bat. 
This pretty little creature may be found in all parts of England; and on account of 
its singularly beautiful ears and gentle temper has frequently been tamed and domes- 
ticated. I have possessed several specimens of this bat, and in every case have been 
rewarded for the trouble by the curious little traits of temper and disposition which have 
been exhibited. 
My last bat-favourite was captured under rather peculiar circumstances. 
It had entered a grocer’s shop, and to the consternation of the grocer and his assistant, 
had got among the sugar-loaves which were piled on an upper shelf. So terrible a foe 
as the bat (nearly two inches long) put to rout their united forces, and beyond poking at 
it with a broom as it cowered behind the sugar, no attempts were made to dislodge it. 
