This common British species is known by the large size of the ears, which are united by their inner margins over the middle of the crown of the head. Hence this group, the Plecoti of authors, may be regarded as naturally forming a sort of stepping-stone from the Megaderms, with their extravagant dermal developments, to the more commonplace “Vespertiliones.” In the Long-eared Bat this character is very striking, the ears being nearly seven-eighths as long as the head and body. The organs are quite thin and membranous, resembling those of the Megaderms already described, and they are traversed longitudinally by three thin threads of cartilage, which apparently serve by their elasticity to support the ears in an erect posture. From the middle thread of cartilage the inner margin of the ear is bent in, forming a sort of fold. A little above the base there is on each ear a small lobe, so placed that when the ears are erect these lobes touch each other. The outer margin of the ear ends opposite the base of the tragus, which is very long, tapering upwards. The tail, which is nearly as long as the head and body, is contained, all but the extremity of the last vertebra, in the ample interfemoral membrane, along the posterior margin of which the spurs extend fully half-way from the heel to the tip of the tail on each side. The fur in the Long-eared Bat is long, thick, and soft; the hairs are blackish at base, tipped above with brown, with a reddish or greyish tinge, which appears to vary with the age of the individuals, and beneath with pale brownish-grey. All the membranes are dusky, usually with a reddish or brownish tinge. The head and body in this species measure about one inch and five-sixths in length, and the tail is about one-sixth of an inch shorter. Its expanse of wing is ten inches.
This Bat occurs in nearly all parts of Europe and in North Africa, extending eastwards throughout Central Asia, but apparently not south of the Himalayas. Specimens from Northern Africa, even up to the fifth Cataract of the Nile, and from the desert regions about the Mediterranean and Caspian Seas, are described as having the fur paler and more ashy in colour, and the membranes also paler than those from more humid localities.
LONG-EARED BAT SLEEPING.
The Long-eared Bat is common, and pretty generally distributed in Britain, but is not so abundant or so well known as some other species. This may, perhaps, be in part due to the fact that it is a nocturnal species, coming abroad later than its fellows, and continuing on the wing in pursuit of the moths, which appear to constitute its chief prey, during the whole of the night. “At all hours,” says Mr. Bell, “through the dead of the night, and in the darkest nights, in the open fields or elsewhere, we have heard the shrill chatter of the Long-eared Bat over our heads, its voice, once known, being easily recognised from that of any other species.” Mr. Bell suggests, what may probably be true, that the great development of the ears in this (and probably other species) may be connected with the habit of flying late at night. It chiefly frequents the open country, taking up its abode in the roofs of tiled houses, especially in country villages, in which situations the Bats pass the day during the summer, suspended in clusters from the walls and timbers by the claws of their hind feet, and the whole winter cosily packed between the tiles and in various holes and corners. It also exhibits a predilection for church towers. When sleeping, the long delicate ears are not generally left exposed, but are folded down under the wings, where they are carefully tucked away. This is commonly the case when the Bat has settled down for its day’s sleep, and always occurs during hibernation. When the ears are thus disposed of, the earlets or tragi still project from the head, giving the little creature the appearance of possessing only a pair of short pointed ears (see [figure]).
In captivity the Long-eared Bat soon becomes very tame and familiar. These Bats will fly about the room, play with each other, and may soon be induced to feed from the hand. “One kept by Mr. James Sowerby,” as stated by Mr. Bell, “when at liberty in the parlour, would fly to the hand of any of the young people who held up a fly towards it, and, pitching on the hand, take the fly without hesitation. If the insect was 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 the young people made a humming noise with the mouth, in imitation of an insect, the Bat would search about the lips for the promised dainty.” From an observation made by Mr. Tomes (Bell’s “British Quadrupeds,” second edition, p. 76), it would appear that the Long-eared Bat, even in freedom, habitually captures at least some of its food in a somewhat similar manner. He says that “having occasion to rise early—about three in the morning—on opening the window of his bedroom, a Bat of this species was seen actively engaged around the sprigs of a spindle-tree which extended across the window. It was in bloom at the time, and was surrounded by a cloud of Microlepidoptera, on which the Bat was feeding. As this took place scarcely four feet from the open window it was easy to see the whole proceeding, and to determine with certainty the manner in which the food was taken. With scarcely an exception, the moths were picked from the leaves while resting there, only one or two being taken on the wing. While thus occupied the Bat hovered much after the manner of the Kestrel, and the ears were bent outwards so much as to curl down the sides of the face, appearing more like two huge cheek-pouches than ears, no part of them appearing of greater elevation than the crown of the head.”
On the ground the progression of the Long-eared Bat is very peculiar. Bats in general run along the ground with the head and body in a nearly horizontal position, but the Long-eared Bat carries the fore part of its body raised, and advances by a series of jerks, first on one side and then on the other.
Several species nearly related to the Long-eared Bat have been described under various generic names. Antrozous pallidus is an inhabitant of North America, Histiotus velatus is found in Brazil, and Otonycteris Hemprichii occurs in Nubia.
THE BARBASTELLE.[183]
The Barbastelle is another British Bat belonging to the same group of the family Vespertilionidæ as the Long-eared Bat, but forming the type of a very distinct genus. The ears, instead of being elongated into great membranous organs half as long as the body of the animal, are only of moderate size, but they are united by their inner margins in the middle of the forehead a little in front of the eyes. The outer margin sweeps round upon the face, on which it terminates above the upper lip, so that the eye is almost completely surrounded by the ear. The tragus is triangular and pointed. The nostrils, as in Plecotus, open on the upper surface of the nose in front of a naked space, and from each nostril a deep groove runs down to the edge of the upper lip. The muzzle is short and blunt, giving the animal rather a surly aspect; the tail is nearly as long as the body, and enclosed in the interfemoral membrane, except the extreme tip; and the teeth are as in the Long-eared Bat.