THE LONG-EARED BAT. 



47 



and less believed, until at last naturalists repudiated the whole story as 

 a " traveller's tale." However, as usual, the truth seems to have lain 

 between the two extremes ; for it is satisfactorily ascertained, by 

 more recent travellers, that the Vampires really do bite both men 

 and cattle during the night, but that the wound is never known to 

 be fatal, and in most instances causes but little inconvenience to the 

 sufferer. 



When they direct their attacks against mankind, the Vampires 

 almost invariably select the foot as their point of operation, and their 

 blood-loving propensities are the dread of both natives and Europeans. 

 With singular audacity, the Bats even creep into human habitations, 

 and seek out the exposed feet of any sleeping inhabitant who has in- 

 cautiously neglected to draw a coverlet over his limbs. 



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 fre- 

 quently been tamed and domesticated. I have possessed several speci- 

 mens of this Bat, and in every case have been rewarded for my trouble 

 by the curious little traits of temper and disposition which have been 

 exhibited. 



One of my Bat favorites was captured under rather peculiar circum- 

 stances. 



It had entered a gro- 

 cer's shop, and to the con- 

 sternatiQji 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 Noctule, or Great Bat [Nodulinia Altivolans). 

 behind the sugar, no at- 

 tempts were made to dislodge it. At this juncture my aid was invoked, 

 and I accordingly drew the Bat from its hiding-place. It did its best 

 to bite, but its tiny teeth could do no damage even to a sensitive 

 skin. 



The Bat was then placed in an empty mouse-cage, and soon became 

 sufficiently familiar to eat and drink under observation. It would 

 never eat flies, although many of these insects were offered, and seemed 

 to prefer small bits of raw beef to any other food. It was a trouble- 



