4 THE BAT. 



Now, I cannot but think that this is very hard on 

 the bats. It is said that the African negroes depict 

 and describe their evil spirits as white ; and that, in 

 consequence, the negro children fly in consternation 

 if perchance a white man comes into their territory. 



Yet, a white man is not so very horrid an object 

 after all, if one only dare look at him ; and the same 

 remark holds good with the bats. 



A very pretty creature is a bat, more especially 

 the long-eared species, Plecotus cow/munis, as it is 



COMMON LONG-EARED BAT. 



scientifically called, and its habits are most curious. 

 It is well worth the time to watch these little crea- 

 tures on a warm summer's night, as they flit about 

 in the air, and to note the enjoyment of their aerial 

 hunt. They are fearless animals ; and provided that 

 the observer remains tolerably still and does not 

 speak, bats will often flit so close to his face that he 

 could almost catch them in his hand. 



