LONG -EARED BAT. 73 



example of a more attentive observation of them, can 

 scarcely have a more striking illustration than the fact 

 that the present species, although larger than many other 

 European species, now well known and sufficiently dis- 

 tinguished, received from Brisson, who first characterized 

 it, the name of Vespei-tilio minor, the comparative term 

 major having been at first applied to V. murinus ; and 

 Linnaeus, who altered the above specific names in the 

 twelfth edition of his Systema Natura, has the following 

 remarkable observation appended to the present species, 

 V. murinus being the one following it. " Distincta 

 species auriculis, nisi solo sexu cum seqvienti con- 

 veniat." 



It is a common though not very abundant British 

 Bat, is more readily tamed than most others, and 

 may soon be brought to exhibit a considerable degree 

 of familiarity with those who feed and caress it. 

 We have frequently watched them when in confine- 

 ment, and have observed them to be bold and familiar 

 even from the first. They are very cleanly; not only 

 cleaning themselves after feeding, and at other times, 

 with great assiduity, but occasionally assisting each other 

 in this office. They are very playful too, and their 

 gambols are not the less amusing from their awkward- 

 ness. They run ov^er and against each other, pretending 

 to bite, but never harming their companions of the same 

 species ; though we have seen them exhibit a sad spirit 

 of persecution to an unfortunate Barbastelle which was 

 placed in the same cage with them. They may be readily 

 brought to eat from the hand; and one kept by Mr. 

 James Sowerby, when at liberty in the parlour, would 

 fly to the hand of any of the young people who held 

 up a fly towards it, and, pitching on the hand, take 

 the fly without hesitation. If the insect were hckl 



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