NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



all. This tunnel was made by a gold-mining syndi- 

 cate. With a friend I explored it, lighting our way 

 along with candles. When half way along the pas- 

 sage, which was some six feet or so broad, and as 

 many in height, our voices echoed and re-echoed in 

 the weirdest manner. Presently I heard a distant 

 rumbling, like the noise of the waves afar off, beat- 

 ing against a rocky coast. It grew louder and more 

 defined. Then in an instant our candles were ex- 

 tinguished, and a great rush as of wind swept past 

 us. Then the rustling of hundreds and thousands 

 of wings on all sides of us was heard. I instinc- 

 tively covered my face with my hat, fearing that in 

 their wild flight through that narrow passage, in 

 profound darkness, some of the bats would dash in 

 my face. However, the precaution was needless, for 

 not a single bat touched either of us, although, ac- 

 cording to a third friend, who had declined to enter 

 the hole, a couple of thousand bats, at least, flew out 

 at the entrance. Lighting our candles we again 

 advanced, and at every step two or three bats flitted 

 past within an inch or two of our faces. Eventually 

 we reached the end, and here, hanging from 

 the rough dynamite - blasted rocky sides and 

 roof of the tunnel, were at least a hundred bats. 

 On approaching within a few feet they squeaked 

 with terror, their bodies quivered, and the nose 

 leaves and ears vibrated rapidly ; but until we at- 

 tempted to handle them, they did not try to escape. 

 These bats were of at least four species — viz. the 



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