32 The Irish Naturalist. [February, 



The Noctule, which is not usually considered to be an 

 Irish species, has been observed by G. Dowker (v.) to leave 

 its residence in the roof of his house between 8 and 8.30 p.m., 

 and to return about 9, the time of flight being therefore 

 scarcely an hour. This is evidently a more accurate method 

 of observation than the foregoing. 



J. K. Harting (ix.) states that he has seen Natterer's Bat 

 hunting some time before sunset, and that it appears before 

 the other local species. The Horseshoe Bats seem to fly 

 much later, but here again no times are recorded— perhaps 

 some of our friends who walk by the light of Freedom's L,amp 

 in Co. Clare can assist us ? 



Prof. J. R. Kinahan (xi.) in 1853 made some interesting 

 observations on Daubenton's Bat and the Pipistrelle. He 

 watched them as they left their home, a hole in Tankards- 

 town Bridge, on June 23, 24, 25, and 27. He says "the bats 

 began scrambling and fighting among themselves audibly in 

 the hole at about 8.30 p.m., they did not begin to fly till an 

 hour later : between 9.30 and 10.30 we counted 41 bats coming 

 out of the hole, but in spite of the number abroad the noise 

 inside seemed just as great as ever. The following evening 

 we counted 29 coming out of the hole, the weather was harsh 

 and cloudy, and growing gradually more and more tem- 

 pestuous, the bats began to retire to their den about 

 10 o'clock." 



It is plain that these various observations are too few in 

 number to warrant any general statement on the subject. 



How long in these countries any of these bats remain on 

 the wing is not very clear, though from the accounts just 

 quoted certain inferences ma}- be drawn. The point is well 

 worth accurate investigation. The fruit-eating bats in hot 

 climates often feed all night, and return home in the early 

 dawn. All the Irish species, at any rate, would seem to retire 

 long before this, as no one I have met will admit having seen 

 any bats at this time. During my own observations, which 

 were very few, the sight of an occasional belated Pipistrelle 

 emphasized the absence of the other species. 



All these bats are supposed to hibernate during the winter 

 months, but the exact date for each species, at which this 

 function begins or ends, is in most cases still to be determined. 



