Vespertimonid^. MAMMALIA. Vespertilionid.*;. 
55 
the arms, while the lesser ears, erroneously so called, 
still maintain their ordinary posture. When tamed — 
a condition which it can be readily taught to appreciate 
■ — the long-eared bat exhibits a most amiable disposi- 
tion ; and in these days of vivaria it would not surprise 
us to hear of some person who had started, what might 
be termed a cheiropterariuni. It would not, however, 
be placed under the management of such superstitious 
Fiff. 12. 
The Long-eared Bat 
individuals as we have formerly described. Yet, seri- 
ously, if any doubt the feasibility of such a scheme, or 
the interest which such a step might create, let them 
first peruse the experiences Mr. Bell has recorded of 
our long-eared friends subjected to a state of captivity. 
He says — “ I have frequently watched them when in 
confinement, and have observed them to be bold and 
familiar even from the first. They are very cleanly ; 
not only cleaning themselves after feeding and at other 
times with great assiduity, but occasionally assisting 
each other in this office. They are very playful too, 
and their gambols are not the less amusing from their 
awkwardness. Tliey run over and against each other, 
pretending to bite, but never harming their companions 
of the same species ; though I have seen them exhibit 
a sad spirit of persecution to an unfortunate barbastelle 
which was placed in the same cage with them. They 
may be readily brought to eat from the hand ; and my 
friend, Mr. James Sowerby, had one during last summer 
(1836) which, when at liberty in the parlour, would fly to 
the hand of any of the young people who held up a fly to 
it, and pitching on the hand, take the fly without hesi- 
tation. If the insect were held between the lips, the 
bat would then settle on its young patron’s cheek, and 
take the fly with great gentleness from the mouth ; and 
so far was this familiarity carried, that when either of 
my young friends made a humming noise with the 
mouth in imitation of an insect, the bat would search 
about the lips for the promised dainty.” What think 
you of this? Let the hypercritical sceptic give his 
attention ! Some people, we know, are shocked at the 
idea of making friends with what they are pleased to 
term a horrid bat — a creature, which, in their estima- 
tion, is almost a representation of Satan himself — a 
creature, say they, whose actions will not bear the 
light of day — an eventide wanderer, whose boon com- 
panions are “spirits of evil and goblins damned” — 
harpies, they say, such as “ fell upon the hastily-spread 
(Plecotus auntus). 
tables of Virgil’s hero and his friends, and polluted, 
whilst they devoured, the feast from which they 
had driven the affrighted guests” — beast and bird 
united monsters, whose prerogative it is to reveal 
whispered utterances of secret thoughts profound ! 
'Hence! hence! ye broad -winged devils, hence! 
Reminiscences of dark and bloody deeds long past 
already overspread our frame — freezing chills now 
enervate and paralyze our souls ! Begone, begone, 
revolting creatures ! misshapen forms ! who can doubt 
your horrid mission ? who abide your thrice-accursed 
presence? 
Whether real or fancied, such have been the 
imaginings of the ignorant and superstitious of ancient 
times, whilst to poet and painter alike our innocent and 
harmless Vespertilios have furnished ample material 
for mysterious and overwrought pictures. Virgil, in 
his third Hlneid, represents .iEneas and his companions 
as making a descent upon the coast of one of the Ionian 
islands. Proceeding inland, they next secured from 
the plains a quantity of cattle, and forthwith prepare 
themselves a feast, when, lo ! the bats appear, and 
thus we may freely render into English the imaginary 
scene which he there depicts — Suddenly, from the 
mountains, the harpies descend with terrific violence, 
shaking their wings, and uttering piercing ci'ies ! Our 
rich dainties are torn asunder and polluted hy their 
foul grasp ! We retreat under the shelter of an over- 
hanging rock, and, relighting our fires, resolve once 
more to prepare the desired feast ! Alas! here come 
the noisy crovid again, to pollute our precious booty 
with their hooked talons and horrid mouths! To 
arms ! Let us wage war upon the dreadful race ! 
Are your swords drawn ? From yon lojty spot 
Misenus gives the signal! The trumpet sounds! 
Away we rush to the attack, '■to violate with the 
sword these filthy birds of the sea!' All in vain! 
Unharmed, with swift impetuous flight they disappear 
