BRITISH BATS. 41 



might feed on the flies attracted by its presence. 

 They would sometimes seize the flies with their 

 teeth ; but the most common mode of capture was 

 to knock them down with a sudden stroke from the 

 end of the wing. They rapidly became tame, and 

 would take flies from my fingers. This species is 

 much less in size than the noctule, measuring only 

 eight or nine inches in expanse of wing, and being 

 more than proportionably slighter and more delicate 

 in form. In a subsequent article he treated of the 

 other kinds found in Great Britain, and especially 

 of the most beautiful species, the long-eared bat, 

 Plecotus aurilus, as follows : 



The long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus) is one of 

 the most plentiful of our native species ; and from 

 the peculiarities of its structure and appearance, 

 it cannot be mistaken for any other kind occurring 

 in this country. The fur is long, fine, and silky in 

 texture, of a dusky, brownish grey colour above, 

 and yellowish-grey beneath ; the extremity of the 

 tail projects very slightly beyond its enveloping 

 membrane, and is more curved in form than that of 

 most other bats. The most striking distinction, 

 however, between this species and the others con- 

 sists in the enormous comparative size of the ears, 

 which can be thrown into the most delicate wave- 

 like curves, presenting a singularly beautiful 

 appearance. During rest, these immense ears are 



