126 
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 ' jund 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. " — TFhites Selh. 
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- 
