52 V ESPERTILIOXID^. MAM JI ALI A. V espertilionid^. 
60 that the notion that bats go down chimnej's and 
gnaw men’s bacon, seems no improbable story. While 
I amused myself with this wonderful quadruped, I saw 
it several times confute the vulgar oiunion, that bats 
when down on a flat surface cannot get on the wing 
again, by rising with great ease from the floor. It ran, 
I observed, with more despatch than I was aware of, 
but in a most ridiculous and grotesque manner.” These 
latter remarks have received ample confirmation from 
the observations of several distinguished naturalists. 
Speaking of the pipistrelle, Mr. Bell states, as the 
result of his experience, that this bat is capable of 
running along the ground with greater celerity than 
any other species with which he is acquainted ; whilst 
its power of climbing showed a “ corresponding degree 
of agility.” He adds, “ I have often seen the pipis- 
trelle rise from a plain surface with a sort of spring, 
instantly expand its wings, and take flight. This was 
repeated by a single individual several times in the 
course of an hour, and without the slightest appearance 
of difficulty or effort ; it was, on the contrary, evidently 
a natural and usual action.” The error, therefore, of 
the commonly-entertained notion respecting the bat’s 
inability to rise from the surface of the ground, is 
clearly manifest, and if further proofs were wanting, 
we might furnish additional evidence to this effect 
from equally trustworthy sources. 
THE NOCTULE {Vespertilio noctula ). — This is com- 
monly known as the Great Bat of Britain. It is a 
large species, measuring very nearly three inches in 
length ; nevertheless, it is not, as erroneously stated in 
some works, the largest of our indigenous Cheiroptera, 
seeing it is considerably exceeded in size by the mouse- 
coloured bat above mentioned. The head is rounded 
and broad transversely ; the muzzle being short, wide, 
and abruptly truncated. One of the most striking 
features in this bat, is the length and extent of the 
wings, measuring in the full-grown individual, while 
outstretched, at least fifteen inches from tip to tip. As 
might be expected, this large amount of wing surface 
gives a corresponding power of rapid flight; for the 
performance of this function it is, indeed, eminently 
distinguished, and exhibits a particular liking for the 
higher regions of the atmosphere, where it rapidly 
glides along uttering wild discordant cries. The most 
interesting and detailed observations on record respect- 
ing the habits of this creature, are those communicated 
to the Zoological Society of London by Mr. Daniell. 
In the published proceedings of that body it is stated, 
that “on the 16th of May, 1834, Mr. Daniell procured 
from Hertfordshire five specimens of the Vesperiilio 
noctula, four females and one male. The latter was 
exceedingly restless and savage, biting the females, 
and breaking his teeth against the wires of the cage, 
in his attempts to escape from his place of confinement. 
He rejected food, and died on the 18th. Up to this 
time the remaining four continued sulky ; but towards 
evening, they ate a few small pieces of raw beef, in 
preference to flies, beetles, or gentles, all of which 
were offered to them ; only one of them, however, 
fed kindly. On the 20th one died, and on the 22nd 
two others, each of which was found to be pregnant 
with a single foetus. The survivor was tried with 
a variety of food, and evincing a decided preference 
for the hearts, livers, et cetera of fowls, was fed con- 
stantly upon them for a montu. In the course of this 
time, large flies were frequently offered to her, but they 
were always rejected, although one or two May-chafers 
{Melolontha vulgaris) were partially eaten. In taking 
the food, the wings were not thrown forward, as Mr. 
Daniell had observed them to be in the pipistrelle ; and 
the food was seized with an action similar to that of a 
dog. The water that drained from the food was lapped ; 
but the head was not raised in drinking, as in the 
pipistrelle. The animal took considerable pains in 
cleaning herself, using the posterior extremities as a 
comb, parting the hair on either side from head to tail, 
and forming a straight line along the middle of the 
back. The membrane of the wings was cleaned by 
forcing the nose through the folds, and thereby expand- 
ing them. Up to the 20th of June, the animal fed 
freely, and at times voraciously ; remaining during the 
day suspended by the posterior extremities at' the top 
of the cage, and coming down in the evening to its 
food. The quantity eaten sometimes exceeded half an 
ounce, although the weight of the animal itself was no 
more than ten drachms. On the 23rd, Mr. Daniell 
observing her to be very restless, was induced to watch 
her proceedings. The uneasiness was continued for 
upwards of an hour ; the animal remaining all this 
time in her usual attitude, suspended b}' the posterior 
extremities. On a sudden she reversed her position, 
and attached herself by her anterior limbs to a cross 
wire of the cage, stretching her hind legs to their 
utmost extent, curving the tail upwards, and expanding 
the interfemoral membrane so as to form a perfect 
nest-like cavity for the reception of the young. In a 
few moments the snout of the young one made its 
appearance, and in about five minutes the whole of its 
head was protruded. The female then struggled con- 
siderably until the extremities of the radii had passed ; 
after which, the young one, by means of a lateral 
motion of its fore limbs, relieved itself. It was born on 
its back, perfectly destitute of hair, and blind. The 
mother then cleaned it, turning it over in its nest ; and 
afterwards resuming her usual position, placed the 
young in the membrane of her wing. She next cleaned 
herself, and wrapped up the young one so closely as to 
prevent any observation of the process of suckling. The 
time occupied in the birth was seventeen minutes. At 
the time of its birth, the young was larger than a new- 
born mouse ; and its hind legs and claws were remark- 
ably strong and serviceable, enabling it not only to 
cling to its dam, but also to the deal sides of the cage. 
On the 24th, the animal took her food in the morning, 
and appeared very careful of her young, shifting it 
occasionally from side to side to suckle it, and folding 
it in the membranes of the tail and wings. On these 
occasions her usual position w’as reversed. In the 
evening she was found dead ; but the young was still 
alive and attached to the nipple, from which it was 
with some difficulty removed. It took milk from a 
sponge, was kept carefully wrapped up in flannel, and 
survived eight days ; at the end of which period its 
eyes were not opened, and it had acquired very little 
hair. From these observations, it is evident that the 
