BARBASTEL BAT. 43 



whole of the day in a warm nest of hay^ rolled up, and 

 in profound slumber. Towards twilight, however, he 

 awoke; and so soon as it was dark he sallied from his 

 retreat, and continued in active motion until morning. 

 He would traverse his cage with a rapidity similar to 

 the flight of a bird, and leap vertically from the ground 

 to the height of six or eight feet ; his power of spring- 

 ing, indeed, is very great. As a proof of the perfect 

 sight enjoyed by this animal, and no doubt by all the 

 nocturnal lemurs, even in total darkness, M. Cuvier 

 mentions the fact of two of them, having escaped from 

 their cage, traversing the room, which was filled with a 

 crowd of. other cages and animals, and re-entering by 

 the little hole whence they had escaped : this they 

 did without suffering the least accident, though in pro- 

 found darkness, — all the window-shutters being closed. 

 Pennant says that it eats and holds its food in its fore 

 paws, in the manner and attitude of a squirrel. 



The specimen figured by Brown was less in size than 

 a rat ; the ordinary length appears to be from ten to 

 eleven inches. The fur is thick, soft, and silky. The 

 upper surface of the body is of a uniform greyish fawn- 

 colour, and the under parts are white ; the face and 

 paws being flesh-coloured : between the eyes there is a 

 longitudinal white spot, bordered on each side with a 

 shade of black. The ears are large, roundish, and 

 naked ; and the tail of the same length as the body. 



The Barbastel Bat. 



Plecotus Barbastellus, Geo^. Vespertilio Barbastellus, Cmt'Z/??. 



The family of bats, although very extensive, and 

 possessing many species of much popular interest, seems 

 to be less capable of confinement or of domestication 

 than almost any other race of quadrupeds. They ap- 

 pear, in short, almost destitute of any artificial im- 

 provement, — remaining in slumber during the day, and 

 only exercising their physical powers when mankind are 

 asleep ; hence it is that we seldom see these animals in 



