286 UPLAND AND MEADOW. 



danger lurking near, and it will readily prove itself no 

 fool. 



Probably no law can be laid down in this matter of 

 correlation between voice and intelligence, but the fact, 

 as stated, still remains, that a many-voiced animal will 

 be found to be more intelligent than a, comparatively 

 speaking, dumb one. So far as I have been able to de- 

 termine, our bats are practically voiceless. I have found 

 them under all circumstances, summer and winter; when 

 the sexes were together, when apart ; when the females 

 carried young, and when, childless and alone, they pur- 

 sued their ceaseless rounds for insect prey, and never 

 yet have I been able to detect any sound that could be 

 taken as evidence of their voluntarily making any noise, 

 excepting that uniform clicking, when they are cap- 

 tured. 



It is natural, on the other hand, to suppose that so 

 active an animal should be cunning or intelligent; but 

 nothing indicative of it has come under my notice. I 

 have tried in every way to tame them, but they success- 

 fully resisted every effort. They would never take food 

 from my hands ; and insects forcibly placed in their 

 mouths were instantly rejected. 



-. ; I would be glad to know if ever a little brown bat had 

 an idea flit through its diminutive brain. Perhaps such 

 an occurrence is common enough, but what external 

 evidence have we that it ever takes place ? They take 

 excellent care of their young, it is true ; but all is done 

 in such a mechanical way that the whole appearance 

 was that of a machine rather than of living, conscious 

 beings. Years ago, I detected evidence of common- 



