THE LONG-EARED BAT.

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near the feet, where, while the creature continues fanning with his enormous wings, which keep the person cool, he bites a piece out of the tip of the great toe, so very small that the head of a pin could scarcely be received into the wound, and which is consequently not painful. Yet through this orifice he sucks the blood, until he is obliged to disgorge. He then begins again, and thus continues sucking and disgorging until he is scarcely able to fly; and the sufferer has often been known to sleep from time into eternity. The Spectre Bats generally bite in the ear, but always in places where the blood flows spontaneously.

These animals, it is said, will frequently hang to one another in vast clusters like swarms of bees. Mr. Foster assures us that he has seen at least five hundred of them suspended, some by their fore, and others by their hind legs, in a large tree, in one of the Friendly Islands.

THE LONG-EARED BAT.

. The long-eared bat is found in most parts of Europe, and is common in England. It may be seen any warm evening flying about in search of insects, and uttering its peculiar shrill cry. It is very common on Hampstead Heath. The ears are about an inch and a half in length, and have a fold in them reaching almost to the lips, from which pecu. liarity the genus is called Plecotus.

This bat is very easily tamed, and will take flies and other insects from the hand. One that I had in my own possession used to hang by the wing-hooks during the whole of the day, and could hardly be persuaded to move, or even to eat; but when the evening came on, it became very brisk indeed, and after carefully combing itself with its hind feet, it would eagerly seize a fly or beetle and devour it, always rejecting the head, legs, and wings. It was then very impatient to be released from the cage, and would show its uneasiness by clinging about the cage and fluttering its wings. It unfortunately died before further investigations could be made, but during the short time that it survived, it seemed very gentle, and only bit me once, although I used frequently to handle it.

The singular appearance of the hair of the Bat as seen through a microscope is caused by a number of scales adhering to the exterior of the hair. These scales can be rubbed off, and in consequence of this property, the bat's hair often assumes very singular forms. The hair that is figured was drawn by means of the Camera Lucida, from a specimen seen by transmitted light, but if it had been seen by

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SPLENDID HORSE-SHOE AND GREATER JAVELIN BAT.

reflected light it would have presented quite a different appearance, not very unlike the plant called Mare's tail before its leaves are grown. The details of the hair are different in the differing species of Bats, but there is always a character about them which is not to be mistaken.

When the Long-eared Bat is suspended by its hinder claws it assumes a most singular aspect. The beautiful long ears are tucked under its wings, which envelop great part of its body. The tragus, that pointed membrane visible inside the ear, is then exposed, and appears to be the actual ear itself, giving the creature a totally dif ferent cast of character.

This is a rare and fine Javanese species, Kebblek of the natives described by Doctor Horsefield. The nasal apparatus consists of a broad membrane stretching across the nose. Its color is pure brown above, variegated with grey beneath. Fur long and silky. Body four inches in length. Expansion nineteen inches and a half.

This species has four cutting teeth above and four below, and its canine teeth are very strong. On its nose are two crests, one formed like a leaf or javelin head and the other like a horse-shoe. The cars are large and the tongue bristled with papillæ.

This species has a small nail, or what naturalists call the index wing finger, a conical head, short ears, tail absent or rudimentary, and the membrane between the thighs very little developed.

This is the largest species known, the expansion of its wings being five feet. The upper part of its neck is musky red, the rest of the fur blackish, with scattering white hairs on the back. It is found in the low grounds of Java, always in flocks. They hang motionless upon the branches of trees during the day. In the night they commit great ravages on the gardens and plantations of fruit. Their flight is slow and steady. The Javanese amuse themselves with shooting the Kalongs on moonlight nights.

BRUTA.

The animals belonging to this order have no front-teeth in either jaw. Their feet are armed with strong, blunt, and hoof-like nails. Their form is in appearance clumsy, and their pace somewhat slow. No animals belonging to this order are natives of Europe.

OF THE SLOTHS IN GENERAL.

The Sloths have no cutting teeth in either jaw; the canine-teeth are obtuse; and there are five grinders on each side. Their fore-legs are much longer than the hind ones; and the body is covered with hair, and not with scales, as in the Armadillo, and Manis.

All the species which constitute the present tribe are unparalleled in the rest of the animal creation, for slowness and inactivity. Their feet are furnished with strong hooked claws, to enable them to climb into trees, where their voracity leads them to devour both the leaves and fruit. Their eyes are languid and heavy, and their whole countenance expresses so much misery, that no one can look them upon without pity. Their teats are seated on the breast; and, in two of the species, it is a remarkable circumstance, that instead of distinct excretory apertures, there is but one common canal, as in birds. Only three species of Sloth have hitherto been discovered, two of which are found chiefly in South America.

THE THREE-TOED SLOTH.

In its general appearance this animal is extremely uncouth. The body is thick, the fore-legs are short, and the hinder ones far longer. The feet are small, but armed with three excessively strong and large claws, of a curved form, and sharp-pointed. The head is round, and the face short and naked. The eyes are small, black and round. The hair on the top of the head projects over, and gives to the animal a very peculiar and grotesque physiognomy. Its general color is a greyish brown; and the hair is long and coarse, covering the body, particularly about the back and thighs, very thickly

THREE-TOED S. OTH.

Of the three-toed Sloth there is extant a very curious, though oftenquoted account, written by Kircher, principally from the authority of a Provincial of the Jesuits, who had been resident in South America, and who, having at different times had several of these animals in his possession, had tried several experiments with them relative to their nature and properties. The figure of the three-toed Sloth, is (he says) extraordinary. This animal is about the size of a cat, has a very ugly countenance, and has its claws extended like fingers. It lives generally on the tops of trees; and if these be at all lofty, it sometimes occupies two whole days in crawling up, and as many in getting down again. Providence has doubly guarded it against its enemies; first, by giving it such strength in its feet, that whatever it seizes it holds with astonishing tenacity: secondly, in having given it such an affecting countenance, that, when it looks at any one who might be tempted to do it an injury, it is almost impossible not to be moved with compassion: it also sheds tears, and upon the whole persuades one that a creature so defenceless and so abject ought not to be tormented.

The Provincial had one of these animals brought to the Jesuits' College at Carthagena. He put a long pole under its feet; this it seized very firmly, and would not let go again. The animal, thus voluntarily suspended, was placed between two beams, and there remained without food for forty days, its eyes being always fixed on those who looked at it. At length it was taken down, and, with great cruelty, a dog was let loose on it. This dog, the Sloth seized in its claws, and held fast until both the animals died of hunger.

In ascending the trees, the Sloth first stretches one of its paws, and fixes its long claw as high as it can reach. It then heavily raises its body, and gradually fixes the other paw; and in this manner con