45 



and further remarked upon the extraordinary development of the 

 appendages and ears, and Likewise of the nose in some species. 



It was observed that Bats, being nocturnal in their habits, appeared 

 to be furnished with especial auditory organs for the purpose of finding 

 their food in the dark, and the tragus seemed to possess its large 

 development for the purpose of localizing the position of the insects on 

 the wing on which they usually fed — while the special olfactory organs 

 are adapted for a similar use. Spallanzgni's expeiiments wei'e quoted 

 to prove their powers of avoiding obstacles in the dark, while it was 

 remarked how difficult it was to catch a Bat upon the wing. 



The Bat's squeak was likened to the grating of a sharp file, or the 

 friction of iron wheels ; it is a note of very high pitch, which some 

 people cannot hear. 



Illustrations were exhibited of the "Large Horse Shoe Bat," the 

 "Long-eared Bat," the " Serotine Bat," the "Vampire" and "Ivoctule." 



M.T. Dowker recounted his observations on the period of hibernation 

 and migration of some of the species he had met with in his immediate 

 neighbourhood, observing that some species come out in winter 

 occasionally, and also by daylight ; whilst others only appear at set times 

 in the year, and come out at regular hours of the evening. He observed, 

 with respect to the Noctule (one of our largest Bats), Vesperugo nodula, 

 that it frequented hollow trees and houses. In April, 18S4, several of 

 these Bats were turned out from the rotten branch of a walnut tree, 

 where they had been hibernating ; all were males, and each measured 

 14in. in the expanse of its wings; they had a strong disagreeable smell 

 (common to the species), and although they were captured alive they 

 soon died after being kept in a cage, for they refused all food. 



A large number of this species, however, Mr. Dowker had noticed 

 to hibernate in his house. They found their way into the top gable and 

 apparently lodged in the wooden brackets and mouldings. He observed 

 every summer that these emerged from their winter quarters about the 

 middle of May ; and regularly took flight at eight o'clock in the evening, 

 and that they continued to frequent the house till the first week in June, 

 when they would all migrate, and not appear again till the following 

 September. It was observed that they fly very quickly, and very hiL;h, 

 dispersing to long distances over the marshes immediately on leaving the 

 house. For instance, on May 17, 1889, he observed fifty-six Noctule 

 Bats emerge from their winter quarters precisely at eight o'clock in the 

 evening, in quick succession one after the other. They flew away to the 

 marshes and were soon all lost to sight, and although he walked some 

 distance after them not one was seen on the wing. On the following 

 evening at the same time some forty were counted, and three of them 

 were shot as they flew away. These were all females, and each of them 

 measured 14in. from tip to tip of their expanded wings. After 



