I2O 



THE BARB AST ELLE. 



plentiful in this country, although specimens have several times been taken in various 

 parts of England. It is a singular coincidence that the first acknowleged British 

 specimen was captured in a powder mill, as was the case with the Great Horseshoe Bat. 



One of these animals which was for some weeks in the possession of Mr. Bell, was 

 taken in Kent, at the bottom of a mine seventy feet in depth. It did not seem 

 to be so active as some Long- Eared and other bats which were taken in the same 

 locality, and preferred lying on the hearth-rug to using its wings. It fed readily 

 on meat and would drink water, but never became so tame as its companions. 

 Its captive life lasted only a few weeks, its death being apparently hastened by 

 the attacks of the other bats, one of which was detected in the very act of inflicting 

 a bite on the Barbastelle's neck. 



The color of the Barbastelle is extremely dark, so much so, indeed, that by depth of 

 tint alone it can be distinguished from any other British bat. On the hinder quarters, 

 a rusty brown takes the place of the brownish-black hue which characterizes the fore- 

 part of the body. Underneath, the hair is nearly gray, being, however, much darker to- 

 wards the neck. 



The length of its head and body is just two inches, that of the ears half an inch, and 



BARBASTELLE. BarbastelJus Communis. 



the expanse of wing measures between ten and eleven inches. The ears are tolerably 

 large, and slightly wrinkled. The tragus is sharply pointed at its tip, and widened at 

 its base. A full view of the face shows a rather deep notch in the outer margin and 

 near the base of the ear. 



The engraving represents the Barbastelle as walking on a level surface, and exhibits 

 the strangely awkward mode by which these animals achieve terrestrial progression. 



One of the most common, and at the same time the most elegant, of the British 

 Cheiroptera, is the well-known LONG-EARED BAT. 



This pretty little creature may be found in all parts of England ; and on account of 

 its singularly beautiful ears and gentle temper has frequently been tamed and domes- 

 ticated. I have possessed several specimens of this bat, and in every case have been 

 rewarded for the trouble by the curious little traits of temper and disposition which 

 have been exhibited. 



My last bat-favorite was captured under rather peculiar circumstances. 



It had entered a grocer's shop, and to the consternation of the grocer and his assist- 

 ant, had got among the sugar-loaves which were piled on an upper shelf. So terrible a 

 foe as the bat (nearly two inches long) put to rout their united forces, and beyond poking 

 at it with a broom as it cowered behind the sugar, no attempts were made to dislodge it. 



