q(5 the long-eared bat. 



nerves on the nose * ; but on that of the present, 

 and several other species, the membrane in which 

 these end, is wanting. Some have supposed, how- 

 ever, that this power of avoiding obstacles in the 

 dark is dependant principally on their ears; for 

 Vv^hen the ears of the bHnded Bats were closed, they 

 hit against the sides of the room, and did not seem 

 at all aware of their situation. 



Several of the present species were collected to- 

 gether for the purpose of the above experiments, 

 and they were preserved in a box for more than a 

 week. Tliey refused every species of food for se- 

 veral days. During the day-time they were ex- 

 tremely desirous of retirement and darkness, and, 

 while confined to the box, never moved or endea- 

 voured to get out while it was light ; and, when 

 spread on the carpet, they commonly rested for ^ 

 few minutes, and then beginning to look about, 

 crawled slowly to a dark corner or crevice. At sun- 

 set the scene was quite changed ; every one then 

 endeavoured to scratch its way out of the box ; a 

 continued chirping was kept up, and no sooner was 

 the lid of the prison opened, than each was active to 

 escape, either flying away immediately, or running 

 nimbly to a convenient place for taking wing. 

 When these Bats were first collected, several of the 

 females had young ones clinging to the breast in 

 the act of sucking. One of them flew with perfect 

 ease, though tv.o little ones were thus attached to 



* Jourcal Ug Pliyslquc, for \70^- 



