LONG-EARED BAT. 75 



animal struck itself against whatever came in its way. 

 Our own observations have led us to believe that the 

 Long-eared Bat, although often to be seen hawking in 

 the evening with the Pipistrelle and other Bats, is never- 

 theless essentially a nocturnal species, coming abroad 

 late in the evening, and continuing its flight through 

 the whole of the night. Until accident had made us 

 acquainted with its voice, when on the wing, we were 

 unaware how often we had been unconsciously in its 

 company. At all hours, through the dead of the night, 

 and in the darkest nights, in the open fields, or elsewhere, 

 we have heard the shrill chatter of the Long-eared Bat 

 over our heads, its voice, once known, being easily recog- 

 nized from that of any other species. May we not 

 reasonably suppose, that the great development of the 

 outer ear, with the corresponding development of its 

 inner structure, may be the means whereby the creature 

 is enabled to thread its way through intricate passages, 

 when deprived of its eyes, and by which it is fitted to 

 pursue its flight in the darkest nights, when we have 

 failed to detect the presence of other species ? The 

 large and prominent eyes, however, doubtless assist it 

 materially in its nocturnal wanderings. 



The progression of this species on the ground differs 

 considerably from that of all the species of true Vesper- 

 tilio. Instead of running quickly along the ground in 

 a horizontal posture with the head low, the fore parts 

 are somewhat raised, and the body thrown forward by 

 successive jerkings, given alternately on one side and 

 the other. We have been led to suppose, from continued 

 observation, that this posture of the body is more or 

 less maintained during flight. 



The large and beautiful ears are usually folded under 

 the arm during sleep, especially if the sleep be profound : 



L 2 



