186 COMMON BAT. Class I. 



woods, glades, and shady walks, and is also 

 frequently observed to skim along the surface 

 of pieces of water, in quest of gnats and insects ; 

 these are not its only food, for it will eat meat 

 of any kind that it happens to find hanging up 

 in a larder. 



The bat brings only two young at a time, 

 which it suckles from two* teats placed on the 

 breast, like those of the human race. These 

 animals are capable of being brought to some 

 degree of familiarity. The Rev. ]\'lr. White of 

 Selborne has seen a bat so far tamed as to eat 

 insects out of a person's hand, and while it 

 was feeding would bring its wings round before 

 its mouth, hovering in the manner of birds of 

 prey. 



Towards the latter end of summer, the bat 

 retires into caves, ruined buildings, the roofs of 

 houses, or hollow trees, where it remains the 

 whole winter, in a state of inaction, suspended 

 by the hind-feet, and closely wrapped up in the 

 membranes of the fore-feet. 



The voice of the bat is somewhat like that of 

 the mouse, but very low, and weak. Ovid takes 

 notice both of that, and the derivation of its 

 Latin mxiiG, . -. -^ ■' '' ■. ' . 



* With exception apparently of the Minute Bat, which has a 

 greater number. See above p. 182. Ed. *- . 



