io8 The Irish Naturalist. October 



These results, however, appear to have been arrived at 

 by the actual study of only three species — the Mouse- 

 coloured [Vespertilio murinus) and the Greater and Lesser 

 Horse-shoe Bats (Rhinolophns ferrum-equinnin and R. 

 hipposideros) — of which only the last-named is found in 

 Ireland. As regards those bats that are familiar to British 

 observers, the absence of spring coupling is strongly doubted 

 by several of our best authorities, as, for instance, by 

 Mr. Arthur Whitaker, who thinks that the manner in 

 which Pipistrelles chase one another in spring is only 

 consistent with amorous propensities,^ and by Mr. T. W. 

 Proger, who draws similar conclusions from the conduct of 

 the Lesser Horse-shoe Bat as observed by him in Wales. '^ 

 Major Barrett-Hamilton's conclusion is that the matter 

 deserves further study, and that the verdict of MM. 

 Rolhnat and Trouessart, " in view of the condition of the 

 male, is so surprising as to seem in need of corroboration." 



Be the facts as they may regarding the Pipistrelle and 

 the Lesser Horse-shoe, the conduct of the Long-eared 

 Bats in the passage at Ballyhyland left no room for doubt 

 that in the case of that species coupling takes place 

 systematically and on a large scale, when the bats come in 

 to rest of a spring night. It was not unusual to see three 

 or four cases of pairing simultaneously in progress within 

 the distance of little more than a yard along the passage 

 wall. By pretty careful watching I ascertained that 

 autumnal coupling also occurs, but only on quite a small 

 scale ; and the repetition ofthe procedure in four consecutive 

 years made it clear beyond question that spring is, in that 

 locality, the chief mating season of the species. The time 

 when pairing seemed to be at its height varied from about 

 April i8th (in 1917) to about May 3rd (in 1916). The 

 earliest and latest dates at which it was seen in spring were 

 April 5th and May 28th ; in autumn, October i6th and 

 November 29th. This last date would doubtless be an 

 instance of coupling during interrupted hibernation. 



"^Naturalist, 1905, pp. 325-330. 



^- Proc. Cardiff Nat. Soc, March, 1905. 



