1894-95-] Danbentoris Bat {Vespertilio Daubentoni). 137 



opinion I have formed as inferential, although what I have 

 seen and observed has led me to this conclusion. 



The altitude of both Loch Dochart and Loch TJre is given 

 on the Ordnance Survey map as 512 feet above sea-level, so 

 the various stations for the bats may be stated as from 516 

 to 540 feet. It is interesting to note that these lochs are 

 situated so near the watershed of central Scotland. They 

 are situated on the upper part of the Tay valley, and within 

 a few miles of the watersheds of the Forth, the Clyde, and 

 the Awe. The bats had chosen as their abodes positions, the 

 accesses to which either were only approachable by water, or 

 were so high up the cliff as to be inaccessible from land. 

 That they had no fear of attack from some birds of prey is 

 evident, as the bats first captured had chosen as a home a 

 fissure within a few feet of a hawk's nest. Had an owl 

 nested in such close proximity it would probably have been 

 different. 



In conclusion, it is as well to point out that it is almost 

 certain that all the bats we saw hovering over the water 

 were of the Daubenton's species, as none of those we captured 

 were of any other variety. As mentioned, we have captured 

 the long-eared bat at a house not far off; but these creatures 

 do not frequent the lochs, as far as we have observed. 



I have been asked to state how many specimens of Dau- 

 benton's bat I saw. This is a most difficult question to 

 answer, but I am prepared to say I have seen dozens of them ; 

 and judging from the noise they made on the 26th July, when 

 I heard the wail come across the water at a distance of at 

 least 300 yards, they must have been present in hundreds. 



At this meeting a paper was read by Mr W. C. Crawford, 

 F.K.S.E., entitled, " On the Cultivation of some Flowerino- 

 Parasites, and the Effects of Parasitism." The paper was 

 illustrated by a number of lantern slides, prepared by Mr 

 Crawford. 



