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NATURAL HISTORY. 
with several other species) were kept alive for a time by feeding them on bits of raw meat, and exhi 
bited “ great familiarity of disposition, not only by their friendliness towards their companions, but hy 
their readiness in taking food from the hand, and in allowing themselves to be interfered with without 
evincing fear or anger.” These Bats were active in their habits:, running and climbing about the cn^e 
with great agility. The sociability of character of Natterer’s Bat is still more strikingly shown by the 
curious description given in the second edition of Bell’s “British Quadrupeds” of a colony observed in 
the roof of Arrow' Church, near Alcester. In a dark retreat, between the ceiling of the church ami 
the tiled roof, “the Bats were seen adhering, by all their extremities, to the under surface of the row 
of tiles which forms the crest or ridge of the roof (partly supported, however, by the upper tier of roof- 
tiles on which the ridge-tiles rested), and others clinging to them, until a mass was made up three or 
four inches thick, six or seven wide, and about four feet in length. It would be wrong to call this 
their place of repose, as they presented a most singular scene of activity, the constant endeavour of 
those outside being to penetrate the mass, probably for warmth ; and to do this they were continually 
poking their noses between those nearest to them, and then forcing in their bodies, to be in their turn 
again pushed to the outside. In this manner a regular bickering was kept up in the whole mass. 
However, they seemed to be very gentle, and to have no idea of biting or otherwise annoying each, 
other.” 
DATBENTON’S BAT.* 
Daubenton’s Bat is another species which is almost confined to Europe. It is generally distributed 
over that continent from Finland and the Ural Mountains to Ireland and the Mediterranean, but is. 
only of doubtful occurrence in North-western Asia. It is about two inches in length ; its ears are 
about three-fourths the length of the head, oval, with the outer margin sinuated, and the inner margin 
folded in; the tragus is narrow, rather obtuse at the apex, and about half the length of the ear; the 
tail is longer than the body ; the fur is usually reddish-brown, but sometimes dark brown or greyish- 
brown above, and ash-grey beneath ; and the wing-membranes show a slight reddish tinge. 
The habits of this Bat are very peculiar* It usually takes up its residence in church-towers and 
other buildings, but sometimes in hollow trees, and always in the vicinity of water, its active life being 
passed in flying over the surface of water. Its flight is not very rapid, and is performed by means of 
very slight but rapid strokes of the wings. It flies usually close to the surface, and from time to time 
dips its nose into the water, probably for the purpose of drinking. This Bat is gregarious in its habits, 
great flocks being generally seen flying about together, and considerable numbers always inhabit the 
same retreat. In confinement it seems to be very delicate, and does not live long; but it is quiet and 
gentle in its behaviour, and will drink milk from the palm of the hand, and feed upon small pieces of 
meat and house flies. The latter, according to Mr. Bell’s editors, are favourite morsels with these Bats,, 
and “it was curious,” they say, “ to see them poke their little noses between the fingers for flies which 
were concealed there. A fly put on a smooth table was always a tempting bub tantalising bait for 
them, for the Bats, in attempting to take hold of it, almost invariably pushed it to the outside of the 
table, from which it fell and was lost.” In this country, Daubenton's Bat lias been taken in various: 
localities, extending as far north as Aberdeenshire ; and in Ireland it has occurred in Donegal and 
Kildare. 
THE WHISKERED BAT.+ 
fllie W hiskered Bat inhabits all Central Europe from the Alps to Finland, and from Russia to 
Ireland. It is also found among the Himalayas, and is said by Schrenck to occur in the Amoor 
country, so that its distribution in Asia is probably rather wide. In England its occurrence has been 
recorded in Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, and Warwickshire, at Colchester and at Cliislehurst, 
and in Ireland in the county of Clare. The Whiskered Bat is a small species, the head and body 
measuring only one inch and two-thirds in length. Its colour is dark chestnut-brown above, ashy 
brown beneath ; the ears bend outwards and have the outer margin notched ; the tragus is half the 
length of the ear ; the face is very hairy, and the hairs on the upper lip are longer than the rest, so as 
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