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NATURAL HISTORY. 
fur is long and soft, and of a brownish-black colour, with whitish tips, which are longer on the hairs 
of the lower surface. The membranes arc dusky black. 
In its habits the Barbastelle seems to be rather solitary ; both in its places of repose and in its 
evening flights it is generally seen alone. It sometimes takes up its abode in caverns, but almost any 
place of retreat will suit it. Thus it may be found in the crevices of walls or trees, in the roofs of 
sheds, behind shutters, and in fact in almost any situation chat offers it a chance of concealment. Its 
flight is peculiar, being a lazy, desultory sort of flutter, performed as if with no particular object : aim 
according to Mr. Bell it is in the habit of approaching evening promenaders “ so closely that the 
flutter of its wings may be heard, and even the cool air thrown by their movement felt upon the 
cheek.” In captivity the Barbastelle is rather timid, and does not become familiar with its keeper 
after the fashion of its near relation, the Long-eared Bat ; and when confined with other Bats it shows 
a certain sullenness of disposition, and an inclination to keep apart from its companions. A specimen 
received in winter by Mr. Bell from a chalk cavern at Chislehurst was very restless when awake, and 
was constantly biting at the wires of his 
box, as if endeavouring to escape. 
“ When suffered to fly about the room, 
he flew very low, and less actively than 
any other under similar circumstances ; 
and he was fond of lying before the fire 
on the hearthrug, where he appeared 
quite to luxuriate in the warmth.” 
In the second edition of “ Bell’s 
British Quadrupeds,” a beautiful variety 
of this Bat from Alcester, in Warwick- 
shire, is mentioned, having “ the fur of 
the under parts, from root to tip, strongly 
tinged with purplish-red, or rose-colour.” 
The authors also state that they have 
seen a perfectly white specimen of the species, and one in which the head and neck were of the 
ordinary dark colour, whilst the rest of the body was pure white. In both these specimens, which 
were young, the membranes were nearly white. 
THE BIG-EARED BAT.* 
Two North American Bats, allied to the Long-eared Bat and the Barbastelle, have been formed 
into a distinct genus by Dr. Allen. They have the ears very large, witli the outer border carried 
forward beneath the tragus, which is nearly half as long as the ear, tapering upwards, and furnished 
near the base on the outer side with a small circular lobe standing almost at right angles to the 
tragus. The sides of the nose bear large excrescences, which join with the inner margins of the ears. 
There are three pre- molars in the lower jaw, instead of two, as in Pkcotus and Sjpiotus. 
The Big-eared Bat is a small species an inch and four-fifths long, with a tail nearly of equal length. 
It is clothed with a long, fine, and soft fur. the hairs of which are blackish at the base, with dusky- 
brown tips on the upper surface, and greyish tips below. This Bat is an inhabitant of the Southern 
Atlantic States of the Union. 
Townsend’s Bat (ClqYynorldmis Tommmdi) is a very similar animal, hut is a little longer, and has 
the face larger and broader and the facial crests more prominent. Its ear and head are shown in the 
annexed figures. The fur is brown above, with the bases of the hairs only a little darker than the 
tips, lighter beneath, and slightly rusty towards the base. It inhabits the central parts of the United 
States (Missouri, Utah). 
GEOFFROY-S NYCTOPIIILE.+ 
The genus Nyctopliilus includes a small number of Bats belonging to the Australian region, 
which, on account of their possession of a rudimentary nasal appendage, have usually been placed with 
EAR AND HEAD OF TOWNSEND’S EAT. [After Allen.) 
* Corynorhinus macrotis . 
f Nyctophilus Geoffroyi. 
