B A T. 
Inhabits Europe , and is found in Great Britain* 
Bats appear abroad in this country early in the fpring; 
fometimes are tempted by a warm day to fally out 
in winter *, fly in the evenings •, live on moths and 
other no&urnal infers; ficim along the water in 
queft of gnats •, fly by jerks, not with the regular 
motion of birds, for which the antients miftake 
them *, frequent glades and fhady places * will go 
into larders, and gnaw any meat they find : bring 
two young at a time, which they fuckle at their 
bread: retire at the end of fummer into caves, the 
eaves of houfes, and into ruined buildings, in vaft 
multitudes, where they generally remain torpid, 
fufpended by the hind legs, enveloped in their 
wings: are the prey of owls : their voice weak. 
Ovid takes notice both of that and the origin of the 
Id l in name : 
Minimum pro cor pore vocem 
Emittunt •, peraguntque leves ftridore querelas. 
‘Eeblaque, non fylvas celebrant: lucemqne per of^ 
Noble volant: feroque trahunt a vefpere nomen „ 
