Little Brown-bat 1159 



that can approach him in silence is the slow, lumbering owl. 

 I have heard it passed as a compliment to a certain owl — his 

 flight recalled that of a big Bat. 



A curious circumstance that at first sight looks like an 

 exception to this rule is thus commented on by Merriam:''' 



"In localities where we had hunted Bats for some time 

 Dr. Fisher and I have on several occasions heard a Bat, 

 when swooping overhead, produce a sound which was dis- 

 tinctly audible at a distance of several paces. But in each 

 instance, if the Bat rose against the clear western horizon, we 

 saw the light shine through numerous perforations in its wings, 

 and the noise was unquestionably produced by the whistling 

 of the air through these shot holes." 



During a recent motor trip, near Naples, I had an oppor- speed 

 tunity of gauging the speed of certain Bats. About sun- 

 down a considerable number of them appeared; they were of 

 two sizes. The larger easily kept pace with the motor-car which 

 was going 20 miles an hour; the smaller dropped behind. 



So far as known, all our Bats are exclusively insectivorous, food 

 The Shrew may eat fruit, the Blarina may vary his diet of 

 worms with nuts and grain, but the Bat at all times and places 

 is found destroying only the little foemen that men hate. 



The evidence relating to the British Long-eared Bat may 

 help us to a knowledge of Bat foods in general. This species 

 is known to feed on moths and the largest insects, and J. G. 

 Millais says" that "when capturing its prey, the Long-eared 

 Bat, in common with several other species, uses the inter- 

 femoral pouch as a trap or bag in which to hold its captive 

 until it is firmly gripped." 



He cites several instances to show that Bats do this either 

 when taking insects on the wing or picking them off flowers and 

 twigs. 



All our Bats are great drinkers, going twice a day at least 

 to the water and indulging in copious draughts. It is probable 



" Mam. Adir., 1884, p. 188. '" P. 47- 



