NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Long-eared bats How taken. 



Several long-eared bats were collected toge- 

 ther for the purpose of the above experiments, 

 and they were preserved in a box for more than 

 a week. During the day-time they were ex- 

 tremely desirous of retirement and darkness, and, 

 while confined to the box, never moved or en- 

 deavoured to get out while it was light; and, 

 when spread on the carpet, they commonly rested 

 for a few minutes, and then beginning to look 

 about^ crawled slowly to a dark corner or cre- 

 vice. At sun-set, however, every one endea- 

 voured to scratch its way out of the box; a con- 

 tinued chirping was kept up, and no sooner w r as 

 the lid of the prison opened, than each was active 

 to escape, either flying away immediately, or 

 running nimbly to a convenient place for taking 

 wing. When they were first taken, several of 

 the females had young ones clinging to the breast 

 in the act of sucking. One of them flew with 

 perfect ease, though two little ones were thus at- 

 tached to her, which weighed nearly as much as 

 the parent. 



These animals are sometimes caught by throw- 

 ing into the air the heads of burdock \\hitened 

 with flour. Either mistaking these for prey, or 

 dashing casually against them, they are caught 

 by the hooked prick les, and brought to the 

 ground. They inhabit most of the countries of 

 Europe, and are well known in England. 



