40 THE COMMON OR LITTLE BAT. 



and the animal seized it precisely in the same man- 

 ner. But, in the latter case, there was some diffi- 

 culty. The fly was so large, that, notwithstanding 

 the width of the Bat's mouth, it could not entirely 

 have admission. My curiosity was excited to know 

 in what manner it would so dispose the fly as to get 

 it down its throat ; since its fore-feet were evidently 

 useless for the purpose. I was soon satisfied. The 

 animal, raising itself somewhat higher than usual on 

 its fore-legs, bent its head with great dexterity un- 

 der its belly, and forced the insect into its mouth, 

 by thrusting it, from side to side, against that part 

 of the membrane which extended betwixt the two 

 hind legs. I cannot be mistaken in this particular; 

 for, during the life of the animal, the experiment 

 was often repeated. The manoeuvre was, however, 

 never practised, except where the fly was too large 

 to be managed with facility by the jaws and tongue 

 alone. This confirms what Mr. White has said re- 

 specting the actions of a tame Bat that he saw eat; 

 but it leads us to a very different mode of account- 

 ing for them. His words are : " When the animal 

 had any thing given to eat, it brought its wings 

 round before its mouth, hovering and hiding its 

 head, in the manner of birds of prey when they 

 feed*/' 



* White's Works in Natural History, i. p. 56. By the word 

 hovering, Mr. White seems to mean a kind of tremulous motion, 

 which is to be remarked in the animals during this process. 



It 



