296 
BLUEFIELDS. 
housei). All the specimens of the species that have 
come into my possession were taken by their flying 
into lighted rooms at night, a practice to which it 
seems more addicted than any other. It is remark- 
able for the large volume, and for the erect position 
of its ears, which, however, are occasionally thrown 
into curves posteriorly, with fine plic(B ; and also for 
the great breadth of its wings, in contradistinction 
to their length or expanse, which gives it in flight 
an appearance of much greater magnitude than it 
possesses. (Plate VI. fig. 2.) 
The Great-eared Bat is active in confinement, but 
in a very different manner from the little Monk Bat 
{Molossus fumarius)f for on the slightest cause it 
leaps up into flight, and that even during the day, 
when it flies about the room with ease and celerity, 
now and then hanging head downward against any 
little projection, or even from the bare plastered 
wall. One, which I had captured, I put within a 
glass candle-shade to secure it ; and though the area 
inclosed by the bottom of this was little more than 
sufficient to allow it to turn its body, it kept con- 
tinually leaping up perpendicularly to the height of 
six inches, expanding the wings at the same time as 
well as the confined space would permit. 
Its flight has not the noiseless character common 
to the Order ; the impulse of its great volar mem- 
branes producing an audible rushing sound. When 
placed on the floor it makes no awkward scrambling 
attempts to crawl, but leaps up at once into the air, 
and flies as readily as any bird. My specimens 
uttered no clicking, or other oral sound, when held ; 
