1154 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



grasp her body. Thus laden, she pursues her nightly avoca- 

 tions until they can be left 'hung up' in some secret place till 

 her return." 



None of our Bats is known to make anything in the 

 nature of a nest. During the second period of their infancy, 

 that is, till they are able to fly, the young remain at home, and 

 are fed by the mother. When about three months old they 

 fly and forage for themselves. 



The father is not known to help in rearing the young. 



Some curious observations on this Bat appear in Stone and 

 Cram's "American Animals."" A number of the species used 

 to spend the day behind the blind of an open window in their 

 New Hampshire house. During August, 1898, an exact count 

 was kept of their number, resulting in proof that they regularly 

 congregated there Sunday nights, and grew fewer towards the 

 middle of the week. The four weeks stood thus (Sundays are 

 in heavy type) : 



This periodicity may have been chance; it may have been 

 that their alternate roost was in a church which was made 

 intolerable to them by Sunday service, or it may point to some 

 rotary food-habit, for which there are many precedents. It is 

 indeed a rule for some predaceous creatures to hunt in diff^erent 

 places at regular times, taking them in something like serial 

 order, on a calendar dictated by the local attractions. 



The above record would have still greater value if it stated 

 what proportion of each sex was represented each time. 



Its envied conquest of the realms of air seems the Bat's 

 most wonderful gift. And yet more marvellous, though less 

 spectacular, is its astonishing sense of touch, which, perhaps 



" Am. Animals, 1902, p. 199. 



