SOME NOTES ON 
THE LONG-EARED BAT IN CAPTIVITY. 
M. LAWSON THOMPSON, 
Saltburn-by-the-Sea. 
For some days previous, a Long-eared Bat (Plecotus auritus) had 
been in the habit of flying in the entrance-hall, apparently in pursuit 
of the moths which congregated in the space between the two doors, 
doubtless attracted by the light shining through the inner door from 
the passage. During one of these indoor flights it was caught and 
placed in a cage, remaining in captivity for nearly a fortnight. The 
following summary of observations on its movements and appearance 
is from notes carefully taken at the time (July 1889). 
The appearance of this species of bat when at rest is singularly 
striking. The enormous ears then droop obliquely backwards, by 
a graceful doubling of the outer margin of the membrane. When 
in this position, the head appears to bear a somewhat fanciful 
resemblance to that of certain horned sheep (I allude to the kind with 
massive horns of a single semi-circular curve). When sleeping, it 
hangs head-downwards, suspended by the hind feet. The long ears 
are folded against the side of the neck, and covered by the wings, 
which are laid along the sides of the body. The tragus, or mem- 
brane within the ear, hangs down perpendicularly, and might be 
mistaken by the uninitiated observer for the real ears. This bat’s 
mode of progression on the ground, though certainly awkward, is. 
more active than one might have anticipated from an examination 
of its structure. It ‘shuffles’ along with the head well off the 
ground, and the hind feet spread out. Being bold and fearless, 
even from the first, my bat was accustomed to climb about the 
sides of its cage by means of the hind feet and the curved claw 
of the rudimentary thumb. Its cry, emitted when disturbed, was. 
short and shrill, uttered in a high tone. The bat’s cry is said, in fact, 
to be inaudible to some persons owing to its high pitch. It is also: 
uttered on the wing. This cry was uttered in quick repetition when 
any attempt was made to touch the little creature—a familiarity 
which was savagely resented by opening its mouth and showing a 
set of minute sharp teeth. It did not even hesitate to attempt 
to bite on such occasions. The hind feet are important limbs in 
the bat tribe, and it was amusing to see how my captive managed 
to clean itself by rubbing the fur with them. 
The food of the Long-eared Bat consists of insects ; moths and 
flies appearing to be favourite morsels. Mine was fed upon moths, 
Naturalist,. 
