CARNARIA. CHEIROPTERA. 43 



an interest independent of that arising from their 

 singular conformation. We have two species, (V. 

 Noctula, and V. Murinus,) whose expanded wings 

 measure fifteen inches, while of others, the expan- 

 sion is little more than five or six. All are strictly 

 nocturnal; remaining during the day in obscure 

 recesses, suspended by the hind feet, but trooping 

 forth in the dusk of evening to pursue the night- 

 flying insects, chiefly moths. Of these they de- 

 vour great numbers, and the severed wings of fine 

 insects may often be seen lying on the ground, 

 snipped off and rejected by the Bats. The notion 

 that they cannot rise to flight from the earth is with- 

 out foundation, as, in captivity, nothing is more com- 

 mon than to see them spring at once to flight from 

 the floor of a room. The female Bat generally brings 

 forth a single young one, which is received into the 

 membrane, the tail being curved upwards so as to 

 form a nest, and afterwards carefully wrapped up 

 in the wings while sucking ; and it has been asserted 

 that she can even fly with the young adhering to the 

 breast. Some species have an extraordinary develope- 

 ment of the ears, which stand up from the head like 

 large hollow shells, occasionally falling down into 

 elegant curves and folds ; they are delicately trans- 

 parent, and are folded beneath the arms during re- 

 pose. These form the genus Plecotus.* Others, 

 again, have a still more remarkable conformation of 

 the nose, which is surrounded by a membranous 

 appendage, taking the most singular shapes. These 

 are the Horse-shoe Bats, (Rhinolophus.) 



* n^ixa, pleko, to fold, and a/r, ota the ears. 



