CHAPTER I 



BA TS 



Two bats are common in the Broad district — the common 

 bat and the large bat, measuring fourteen inches across the 

 wings. 



The Common Bat 



may be seen any day of the year, but he is very uncertain, 

 and his appearance depends much upon the weather. On 

 mild winter evenings he is sure to appear whenever there 

 are any midges flying about, and you see him hawking 

 through them, flying to and fro thousands of times ; and 

 you can hear his jaws snap, the sharp little mole-like teeth 

 coming together with a click. Like the tom-breeze (dragon- 

 fly), he hawks to and fro, devouring thousands of midges. 

 But he is never to be seen in coarse weather : he lies up 

 then in an old woodpecker's hole in a hollow tree, or in 

 some safe retreat. 



The bats' appearance is at all times very uncertain, but 

 just before dusk is their hour; and if they appear in winter, 

 the Broadsmen say "some wild weather is a-coming." 



The Large Bat, 



common to the district, I have seldom seen in mild winters 

 even ; but in the summer he is common enough, appearing 

 over the dikes and rivers from half-past seven to half-past 

 eight or nine ; he and the night-jar often turn out together, 

 just as the cuckoo is going to bed. 



