Vespertilioxid.e.- 



-MAJIMALIA.- 



-Vespektilioxid.e. 



so that the notion that bats go down chimneys and 

 gnaw men's bacon, seems no improbable story. While 

 F amused myself with this wonderful quadruped, I saw 

 it several times confute the vulgar opinion, that bats 

 when down on a flat surface cannot get on the wing 

 again, by rising with great ease from the floor. It ran, 

 I observed, with more despatch than I was aware of, 

 but in a most ridiculous and grotesque manner." These 

 latter remarks have received ample confirmation from 

 the observations of several distinguished naturalists. 

 Speaking of the pipistrelle, Mr. Bell states, as the 

 result of his experience, that this bat is capable of 

 running along the ground with greater celerity than 

 any other species with which he is acquainted ; whilst 

 its power of climbing showed a " corresponding degree 

 of agility." He adds, " I have often seen the pipis- 

 trelle rise from a plain surface with a sort of spriug, 

 instantly expand its wings, and take flight. This was 

 repeated by a single individual several times in the 

 course of an hour, and without the slightest appearance 

 of difficulty or effort; it was, on the contrary, evidently 

 a natural and usual action."' Tlie error, therefore, of 

 the commonly-entertained notion respecting the bat's 

 inability to rise from the surface of the ground, is 

 clearly manifest, and if further proofs were wanting, 

 we might furnish additional evidence to this effect 

 from equally trustworth}' sources. 



THE NOCTUIE [Vcqicrtilm noctula). — This is com- 

 monly known as the Great Bat of Britain. It is a 

 large species, measuring very nearly three inches in 

 length ; nevertheless, it is not, as erroneously stated in 

 some works, the largest of our indigenous Cheiroptera, 

 seeing it is considerablj' exceeded in size by the mouse- 

 coloured bat above mentioned. The head is rounded 

 and broad transversely ; the muzzle being short, wide, 

 and abruptly truncated. One of the most striking 

 features in this bat, is the length and extent of tlie 

 wings, measuring in the full-grown individual, while 

 outstretched, at least fifteen inches from tip to tip. As 

 might be expected, this large amount of wing surfiice 

 gives a corresponding power of rapid flight ; for the 

 performance of this function it is, indeed, eminently 

 distinguished, and exhibits a particular liking for the 

 higher regions of the atmosphere, where it rapidly 

 glides along uttering wild discordant cries. The most 

 interesting and detailed observations on record respect- 

 ing the habits of this creature, are those communicated 

 to the Zoological Society of London by Mr. Daniell. 

 In the published proceedings of that body it is stated, 

 that "on the 16th of May, 1834, Mr. Daniell procured 

 from Hertfordshire five specimens of the Vespcrlilio 

 noctula, four females and one male. The latter was 

 exceedingly restless and savage, biting the females, 

 and breaking his teeth against the wires of the cage, 

 in his attempts to escape from his place of confinement. 

 He rejected food, and died on the 18th. Up to this 

 time the remaining four continued sulky ; but towards 

 evening, they ate a few small pieces of raw beef, in 

 preference to flies, beetles, or gentles, all of which 

 were offered to them ; only one of t^hem, however, 

 fed kindly. On the 20th one died, and on the 22nd 

 two others, each of which was found to be pregnant 

 with a single feetus. 'J'he survivor was tried with 



a variety of food, and evincing a decided preference 

 for the hearts, livers, et cetera, of fowls, was fed con- 

 stantly upon them for a month. In the course of this 

 time, large flies were frequently offered to her, but they 

 were always rejected, although one or two May-chafers 

 {Melolontha vulgaris) were partially eaten. In taking 

 the food, the wings were not thrown forward, as Mr. 

 Daniell had observed them to be in the pipistrelle ; and 

 the food was seized with an action similar to that of a 

 dog. The water that drained from the food was lapped ; 

 but the head was not raised in drinking, as in the 

 pipistrelle. The animal took considerable pains in 

 cleaning herself, using the posterior extremities as a 

 comb, parting the hair on either side from head to tail, 

 and forming a straight line along the middle of the 

 back. The membrane of the wings was cleaned by 

 forcing the nose through the folds, and thereby expand- 

 ing them. Up to the 20th of June, the animal fed 

 freely, and at times voraciously ; remaining during the 

 day suspended by the posterior extremities at the top 

 of the cage, and coming down in the evening to its 

 food. The quantity eaten sometimes exceeded half an 

 ounce, altliough the weight of the animal itself was no 

 more than ten drachms. On the 23rd, Mr. Daniell 

 observing her to be very restless, was induced to watch 

 her proceedings. The uneasiness was continued for 

 upwards of an hour ; the animal remaining all this 

 time in her usual attitude, suspended by the posterior 

 extremities. On a sudden she reversed her position, 

 and attached herself by her anterior limbs to a cross 

 wire of the cage, stretching her hind legs to their 

 utmost extent, curving the tail upwards, and expanding 

 the interfemoral membrane so as to forir; a perfect 

 nest-like cavity for the reception of the young. In a 

 few moments the snout of the young one made its 

 appearance, and in about five minutes the whole of its 

 head was protruded. The female then struggled con- 

 siderably until the extremities of the radii had passed ; 

 after which, the young one, by means of a lateral 

 motion of its fore limbs, relieved itself. It was born on 

 its back, perfectlj' destitute of hair, and blind. The 

 mother then cleaned it, turning it over in its nest ; and 

 afterwards resuming her usual position, placed the 

 young in the membrane of her wing. She next cleaned 

 herself, and wrapped up the young one so closely as to 

 prevent any observation of the process of suckling. The 

 time occupied in the birth was seventeen minutes. At 

 the time of its birth, the young was laiger than a new- 

 born mouse ; and its bind legs and claws were remark- 

 ably strong and serviceable, enabling it not only to 

 cling to its dam, but also to the deal sides of the cage. 

 On the 24th, the animal took her food in the morning, 

 and appeared very careful of her young, shifting it 

 occasionally from side to side to suckle it, and folding 

 it in the membranes of the tail and wings. On these 

 occasions her usual position was reversed. In the 

 evening she was found dead ; but the young was still 

 alive and attached to the nipple, from which it was 

 with some difficulty removed. It took milk from a 

 sponge, was kept carefully wrapped up in flannel, and 

 survived eight days ; at the end of ■which period its 

 eyes were not opened, and it bad acquired very little 

 hair. From these observations, it is evident that tha 



