THE GREATER HORSESHOE BAT 239 



found that, whereas the fumes of camphor or ammonia and the 

 glare of a strong acetylene lamp passed unnoticed, the rattle of 

 a cup and saucer, or the passing of a finger gently over his 

 own forehead, at a distance of nine inches, put a bat of this 

 species at once on the qui vive. 



It is probable, then, that, apart from the generally sensitive 

 condition of the wings and membranes, the sense of hearing is 

 the most important aid in the capture of their prey by these 

 bats. Mr Coward found that a large beetle was imperceptible 

 to his captives at a distance of only two inches, and so 

 long as it remained quiet, attracted no attention unless it 

 was actually touched. But directly it buzzed the result was 

 very different. A bat's attention was at once attracted and 

 the beetle pursued and captured. 



If the flight is characteristic, the method of alighting is 

 equally so. In the words of Mr Oldham,' the ordinary pro- 

 cedure of other bats, when alighting on a vertical surface, 

 such as a wall, a picture-frame, or a curtain, is "by pitching 

 head uppermost. They then shuffle round instantly, and hang 

 by their feet, in a convenient posture for another flight. 

 But the Lesser Horseshoe Bat^ is infinitely more adroit. 

 Immediately before it reaches the wall, or the object on which 

 it desires to rest, it turns a somersault, timing its action with 

 such nicety that it clutches the object with its feet, and is at 

 once in the attitude for taking flight again. The bat by per- 

 forming this manoeuvre can suspend itself, in the act of alight- 

 ing, from a horizontal surface such as a cave roof, as readily 

 as from a vertical wall. Two individuals which I had under 

 observation used after each flight to disappear beneath a couch, 

 where I always found them suspended from the webbing which 

 supported the seat. By lying on the floor with my head under 

 the couch, and then disturbing the bats, I was able, on their 

 return, to witness this feat of aerial gymnastics, which is 

 perhaps unequalled among the higher animals." Natterer's 

 Bat and the Barbastelle alone in addition, so far as is known, 

 attempt the somersault, and that feebly, and with indifferent 



1 Mein. and Proc. Manchester Lit. and Philosoph. Soc, xlix., 2, i-i i, pi. and 4 figs., 

 31st March 1905, but the peculiarity seems to have been noticed by de Jurine at 

 Geneva before 1800 (see Zoologist, 1850, 2815). 



2 These remarks apply equally to the present species. 



