128 
WHITE, OR BARN OWL. 
gray, the fur being of a reddish cream at bottom, then strongly 
tinged with lake, and minutely tipt with whiter the ears are 
scarcely half an inch long, with two slight valves; the nostrils 
are somewhat tubular; fore teeth in the upper jaw, none — in 
the lower, four, not reckoning the tusks; the eyes are very 
small black points; the chin, upper part of the breast and head, 
are of a plain reddish cream colour; the wings have a single 
hook or claw each, and are so constructed, that the animal may 
hang either with its head or tail downward. I have several 
times found two hanging fast locked together behind a leaf, the 
hook of one fixed in the mouth of the other; the hind feet are 
furnished with five toes, sharp-clawed; the membrane of the 
wings is dusky, shafts light brown; extent twelve inches. In a 
cave, not far from Carlisle in Pennsylvania, I found a number 
of these bats in the depth of winter, in very severe weather; 
they were lying on the projecting shelves of the rocks, and 
when the brand of fire was held near them, wrinkled up their 
mouths, showing their teeth; when held in the hand for a short 
time, they became active, and after being carried into a stove 
room, flew about as lively as ever.* 
* Tills species Dr. Godman calls the VespertUio noveboraceusis of Linnseus. 
See his American Natural History, vol. i, p. 48. Wilson, it should seem, was 
of a different opinion. 
