1%6 LONG-EARED BAT. 



perceived in the smaller vessels ; but when thus 

 awakened by warmth it again becomes visible by 

 the microscope. This was first observed by Leew- 

 enhoeck, who could perceive no appearance of 

 circulation in such as were taken in their torpid 

 state; but on bringing them to the fire, the cir- 

 culation soon became very brisk. 



Bats are said to drink on the wing, like swal- 

 lows, by sipping the surface, as they play over 

 pools and streams. They love to frequent waters, 

 not only for the sake of drinking, but on account 

 of the insects, which are found over them in the 

 greatest plenty. " As I was going (says Mr. 

 White), some years ago, pretty late, in a boat 

 from Richmond to Sunbury, on a warm summer's 

 evening, I think I saw myriads of Bats between 

 the two places : the air swarmed with them all 

 along the Thames, so that hundreds were in sight 

 at a time. " — White's Selb. 



The general appearance of the Bat, together 

 with its nocturnal flight, must be confessed to 

 excite the idea of something hideous and dismal ; 

 and for this reason the ancients consecrated it to 

 Proserpine, and supposed it to be one of the inha- 

 bitants of her dusky regions: and it cannot fail 

 to occur to the recollection of every one, that 

 painters, in their representations of fiends and de- 

 mons, usually exhibit them with the leathern 

 wings of the Bat. It is also equally evident, that 

 the fabulous Harpies of the ancients must have 

 originated from a similar source : the larger Bats 

 of India and Africa, by a little poetical exaggera- 



