386 Professor MacGillivray on the Mammalia of the 



almost incredibly large, were observed on the beams and elsewhere ; 

 and several of the upper steps of the stair of one of the steeples 

 were thickly covered with it. The quantity seen might be rudely 

 estimated at two barrowfuls. On returning, we let loose the bats 

 in my working-room. The number, as we afterwards ascertained, 

 was seventy-four, of which about forty were liberated or escaped. 



These bats are very active. They hobble along the floor with 

 considerable speed, and can rise on wing very readily from a flat 

 surface. Their flight is moderately quick, and usually silent ; but 

 in hovering, when intending to settle, or in turning a corner, or 

 when any impediment presents itself, the flutter of their wings may 

 be distinctly heard at the distance of twenty or thirty feet. They 

 utter a feeble, shrill, rather harsh cry, and when irritated, emit an 

 incessant querulous chatter. On being seized, they generally try to 

 bite, some individuals shewing considerable ferocity, while most are 

 timid. When single, they feel cold to the hand, especially their 

 membranes; but when many are together, a most surprising degree 

 of heat is generated. Forty of them kept some time in a large tin 

 cannister, rendered it quite warm to the hand applied to its lower 

 part externally. The moisture caused by their perspiration, or 

 otherwise, covered the sides and top in drops, and ran down as on 

 the glass of a window in damp weather, and their hair at length 

 became soaked with it. 



In the middle of October of the same year, I revisited the steeples 

 and roof, accompanied by Mr Leslie and my son. The weather was 

 boisterous and cold, there being a fierce easterly gale, with rain. 

 Not a single individual could be found. They had probably retired 

 to their winter quarters, at least temporarily. 



This species is much infested by parasites of three kinds. At 

 least, I have seen individuals of which the membranes were dotted 

 all over with inflamed spots caused by their punctures; and some, 

 which were found in the churchyard unable to fly, seemed to have 

 been reduced to that state of debility by these animals. 



I have frequently seen it flying in the evening, even before sun- 

 set, and, on a few occasions, early in the morning ; but until the 

 autumn of 1843, had not observed it abroad at midnight. In clear 

 moonlight nights, however, it flies all night, as probably do all the 

 other species. 



In so far as I know, this species has not hitherto been observed 

 in any other part of the district ; but there is reason to think that 

 it is extensively distributed, as bats are not uncommon in very many 

 places. 



2. Vespertilio Pipistrellus. Pipistrelle Bat. 



Ears ovato-triangular, a little shorter than the head, sinuate on the 

 outer margiuj and having at the base a small rounded lobe, nearly 

 straight, on the inner margin ; tragus about half the length of the ear, 

 linear-oblong, slightly incurvate, rounded at the end, and having a siniis 



