66 Quadrupeds. 



Naitereri), the notched-eared bat ( V. emarginatus), perhaps introdu- 

 ced by a mistake of Geoffroy's, no British specimen being known ; 

 Daubenton's bat {V. Dauhentonii), the whiskered bat [V.mystacinus], 

 the long-eared bat [Plecotus airritus), the lesser long-eared bat (P. 

 hrevimanus), probably the young of the preceding ; the barbastelle 

 [Barhastellus Daubentonii), the greater horse-shoe bat (Bhmolophus 

 ferrum-equinum), and the lesser horse-shoe bat [R. hippos Ideros).* 



As may be anticipated, the bulk of Mr. Bell's observations on this 

 interesting order of animals have been frequently before the public ; 

 the following passages are selected as containing matter that is either 

 new or not generally known. 



The pipistrelle, or common bat of Britain. 



" There is one circumstance of considerable interest which I have ohserved in this 

 species, which, I believe, has not ever been noticed, and which, it is probable, apper- 

 tains also to others. It is the prehensile character of the extremity of the tail. A 

 small portion of the tail in this and in most other species of this family is exserted be- 

 yond the margin of the interfemoral membrane. Not only does the animal employ 

 the tail in horizontal progression — in which case it assists in throwing forward the bo- 

 dy, by being brought into contact with the ground on eitlier side alternately, corre- 

 sponding with the action of the hinder foot on the same side, — but in ascending and 

 descending a rough perpendicular surface, this little caudal finger holds by any pro- 

 jecting point, and affords an evident support. This is particularly conspicuous when 

 the bat is traversing the wires of a cage, in which situation I first observed the fact.*' 

 —p. 27. 



The long-eared bat. 



" It is one of the most common of our British bats ; and the extraordinary deve- 

 lopment of the ears, their beautiful transparency, and the elegant curves into which 

 they are thrown at the will of the animal, render it by far the most pleasing: it is also 

 more readily tamed than any other, and may soon be brought to exhibit a considerable 

 degree of familiarity with those who feed and caress it. I have frequently watched 

 them when in confinement, and have observed them to be bold and familiar even from 

 the first. They are very cleanly ; not only cleaning themselves after feeding, and at 

 other times, with great assiduity, but occasionally assisting each other in this oflSce. 

 They are very playful too, and their gambols are not the less amusing from their awk- 

 wardness. They run over and against each other, pretending to bite, but never harm- 

 ing their companions of the same species ; though I have seen them exhibit a sad 

 spirit of persecution to an unfortunate barbastelle which was placed in the same cage 

 with them. They may be readily brought to eat from the hand ; and my friend Mr. 

 James Sowerby had one during last summer, which, when at liberty in the parlour, 

 would fly to the hand of any of the young people who held up a fly towards it, and 



* Mr. Gray in this country, and M. Selys de Longchamp on the continent, have 

 lately introduced new specific characters of bats, derived from the mode in which the 

 membrane is connected with the hind foot. As these characters appear likely to faci- 

 litate the distinguishing of species, they will be noticed at length in an early number 

 of* The Zoologist.' 



