THE LONG-EARED BAT. 



109 



brown takes the place of the brownish-black hue wliich characterizes the fore-part of the body. 

 Underneath, the hair is nearly gray, being, however, much darker towards the neck. 



The length of its head and body is just two inches, that of the ears half an inch, and 

 .the expanse of wing measures between ten and eleven inches. The ears are tolerably 

 large, and slightly wrinkled. The tragus is sharply pointed at its tip, and widened at its 

 base. A full view of the face shows a rather deep notch in the outer margin and near the 

 base of the ear. 



One of the most common, and at the same time the most elegant, of the Cheiroptera, is 

 the well-known Long-eared Bat. 



This pretty little creature may be found in all parts of England ; and on account of its 

 singularly beautiful ears and gentle temper has frequently been tamed and domesticated. I 

 have possessed several specimens of this bat, and in every case have been rewarded for the 

 trouble by the curious little traits of temper and disposition which have been exhibited. 



LONG E\Hi:i) ]IAT.-/Y,r<,^» tiia-U'ts. 



The enormous ears, from which the animal derives its name, are most beautiful organs. 

 Their texture is exquisitely delicate, and the bat has the power of throwing them into graceful 

 folds at every movement, thereby giving to its countenance a vast amount of expression. 



It sometimes happens that the Long-eared Bat has lived long in captivity, and even pro- 

 duced and nurtured its young under such conditions. For the following very interesting 

 account of a maternal bat, I am indebted to the kindness of Mrs. S. C. Hall. 



"While living in an old rambling country house in Ireland, without any companions of 

 my own age, — an only solitary child left (after my 'lessons' were finished) to create my own 

 amusements — I made friends, of course, with our own dogs and horses ; and as all the servants 

 loved 'little Miss,' and anxiously ministered to her desires, I became well acquainted with the 

 habits and peculiarities of the wild creatures in our own grounds and neighborhood. We 

 were within a mile of the sea, and there was a beautiful walk from the dear old house, on to 

 the cliff that sheltered our bathing cove, which I have traversed, accompanied by our New- 

 foundland dog, the old retriever-spaniels, and a fine deerhound, at nearly all hours of the day 

 and night. 



"A lovely ivy-covered cottage near the orchard, which, before I was bom, was occupied 

 by an old gardener, was at last given over to my menagerie, as the only way of keeping the 

 'big house' free from 'Miss Mary's pets.' My "help' was a strong-bodied girl, one of the 

 'weeders,' who had the rare merit of not being afraid of anything 'barring a bull ;' and she 

 always intimated if I made a pet of a bull, she would ' wash her hands clean out of the mena- 

 geeree for ever — Amin !' 



"As I never did, poor Sally remained my assistant until the death of my dear grand- 



