BATS. 31 



health and strength, might have easily accomplished this feat. 

 At any rate it must not be supposed to be a thing impossible for 

 a bat to perform, for Professor Bell assures us, that he has often 

 seen this species rise from a plain surface with a sort of spring, 

 instantly expand its wings and take flight, and that one which 

 he kept did so repeatedly in the course of an hour, and without 

 the slightest appearance of difficulty or effort, and expresses his 

 conviction, that it is a natural and usual action, and adds that 

 he has observed the same habit in the reddish-grey (V. Nattereri), 

 and in the long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus). 



The common bat runs along the ground in an almost prostrate 

 position, and climbs with more ease and celerity than would be 

 expected. Professor Bell, whose account of our native bats con- 

 tains many interesting and novel observations, notices that " a 

 small portion of the tail is produced beyond the margin of the 

 interfemoral membrane. Not only does the animal employ the 

 tail in horizontal progression in which case it assists in throw- 

 ing forward the body, by being brought into contact with the 

 ground on either side alternately, corresponding with the action 

 of the hinder foot on the same side, but in ascending and 

 descending a rough surface, this little caudal finger holds by any 

 projecting point, and affords an evident support. This is particu- 

 larly conspicuous when the bat is traversing the wires of a cage." 

 Gilbert White mentions a tame bat which would take flies out 

 of a person's hand, and exhibited great adroitness in shearing 

 off their wings, which it always rejected. When given anything 

 to eat ; it brought its wings round before the mouth, hovering 

 and hiding its head as predacious birds do when they feed. 

 Insects seemed to be most acceptable, though it did not refuse 

 raw flesh when offered it. Indeed the bat is so fond of meat, 

 that it will sometimes enter a larder, cling to a joint, and make 

 a hearty supper upon it. Mr. Thomas Scandrett informs me, 

 that the children in Worcestershire repeat the following rhyme 

 while they throw their hats up at the bat : 

 Leather-wing bat, 

 Come under my hat, 

 And I'll give you a rasher of bacon. 



