1901. Ai<cock & Moffat. — The Long-cared Bat. 247 



By this period of the spring one might have supposed that 

 its hibernation was over; but the Bat's conduct proves the 

 reverse, for during the next three nights — April 10th, nth, 

 and 12th — it did not fly at all. On the iotb it was visited with 

 a lantern at 7.35, 9.5, and 11.5 p.m. ; on the nth at 8.45 p.m. ; 

 and on the 12th at 8 and 10.30 p.m. ; and on all these occasions 

 was seen sound asleep. On the evening of April 13th, how- 

 ever, it quitted the hole at 7.45 p.m., and did not again return. 

 On the same night, as already noticed, a bat of this species — 

 probably not the same individual — was seen flitting round a 

 willow. 



The respective temperatures for the four nights of April 

 10th to 13th, taken about 8 p.m., were 43 , 41 , 43 , and 45 . 



Other observers have recorded similar facts. Mr. C. 

 Oldham informs us that he has found individuals of this 

 species in winter in the caves at Alderley Edge, and that these 

 repeatedly shift their quarters. 'Many similar instances can 

 be adduced. So that hibernation in the case of the Long- 

 eared Bat, at any rate, is not as profound or as unbroken as 

 was at one time supposed, but is repeatedly interrupted ; and, 

 apparently, this is liable to occur whenever the thermometer 

 rises above 46 F. 



In the cases just mentioned we have instances of the L,ong- 

 eared Bat passing the winter and early spring in a solitary 

 condition. On May 2nd, 1901, another solitary specimen was 

 found, also inhabiting a hole in a Beech-tree, 8 feet above 

 ground. This animal is not, therefore, of universally 

 gregarious habits. It is, however, frequently found in 

 enormous colonies ; and it would be of great interest to ascer- 

 tain under what conditions it is respectively a solitary or 

 gregarious bat. 



The haunts of the largest and best-known colonies are 

 generally in the roofs and towers of churches. Jameson (x.) 

 instances Kilmore cathedral (Co. Cavan), Charlestown church 

 (Co. L,outh), Castlemacadam church (Co. Wicklow). and 

 Cappagh church (Co. Waterford), as abodes of large colonies ; 

 we may add, also, Rosdroit church (Co. Wexford). Where 

 dates are given, these places seem generally to have been ex- 

 plored in summer; but there is no evidence that they are 

 deserted, even partially, by the bats in winter. Smaller 

 colonies, or " swarms," of this species occur from time to time 



