THE BAT. 179 



people who held up a fly towards it, and, even pitching 

 on the hand, it would take the insect without hesitation. 

 If the fly were held between the lips, the bat would then 

 settle on the cheek, and take it very gently from the 

 niouth. Even when a humming noise was made, in 

 imitation of an insect, the bat would search about the 

 lips for the promised dainty. 



Another kind of bat, a Barbastelle, was taken during 

 a very hard frost, in the latter end of December, from a 

 large chalk cavern, to which several species are found to 

 retreat, with some others of different kinds. When 

 brought into a warm room, they soon began to exhibit 

 signs of vivacity ; and the Barbastelle, with the rest, 

 fed readily on small bits of meat, and drank water. He 

 was a timid creature, and did not show the slightest 

 disposition to become acquainted with his host j but he 

 would take his food with his companions, and used to 

 rest with them in a cluster, at the top of the box in 

 which they were placed. 



The Barbastelle became torpid more readily and 

 completely than any of the others j but, when awake, he 

 was very restless, and was constantly biting violently 

 against the wires of his box. When suffered to fly 

 about the room, he flew very low, and less actively than 

 the rest ; and was fond of lying before the fire on the 



