4O Anecdotal Natural History. 



which stand out for some distance from the head, 

 and which are thrown at every moment into a variety 

 of graceful folds. In consequence of its gentle 

 temper, this bat is easily tamed, and is often kept as 

 a pet, coming when called by those with whom it is 

 familiar. 



Another of the British bats is the Noctule, or 

 Great Bat (Noctulinia altivolans), which is remarkable 

 for the great height at which it usually flies. The 

 specific name, altivolam, refers to this habit. It is 

 the largest but one of the bats found in this country, 

 being almost three inches in length from head to tail, 

 while the spread of the wings is nearly fourteen 

 inches. Its cry is remarkably keen, and, like that 

 of some other species, closely resembles the squeak 

 which can be produced by rubbing two keys sharply 

 together. So shrill is the cry of the bat, that to 

 many, among them even practised musicians, it is 

 perfectly inaudible, the note produced being too 

 attenuated to make any impression upon the ear. 



A curious development of the nasal organ is found 

 in the Horse-shoe Bat (Rhinolophus Ferrum-equinuni), 



which is also a native 

 of this country. It 

 consists of a mem- 

 brane, commencing at 

 the lips, surrounding 

 the nose, and project- 

 ing upwards for some 

 " j. distance. Im- 

 mediately behind it is 

 a second membrane, 

 placed on the fore- 

 Head of Horse-shoe Bat. head, and sharply 

 pointed. It has been thought that the object of the 

 structure is to increase the delicacy of the sense of 



