171 



ed bats when they commenced their nightly flights and have been 

 convinced that they drink when they touch the water as described 

 by Jerdon at page 1 8. This habit is however not confined to fly- 

 ing foxes, but is common to all the other species of bats I know of. 



During the present hot season, (1869) at about dusk each evening 

 I have been in the habit of swimming in a bath close to my house 

 in the Artillery lines at Kamptee, and while so employed have con- 

 stantly seen bats of many kinds strike the water close to me as I 

 floated about the bath or sat on one of the steps with only my 

 head visible. 



When they were coming towards, or crossing me, it was impos- 

 sible from the fading light and rapid flight of the animals to see 

 why they struck the water, which they sometimes did with suffi- 

 cient force to cause both splash and sound. When they were fly- 

 ing from me however I have distinctly seen them lower their head 

 towards the water and almost as distinctly have seen them drink. 



At any rate that they do drink at these times, I feel sure. 



Page 7, No. 6. 



Megaderma Lyra, large-eared Vampire Sat. 

 In the case here mentioned of a tame canary being killed by 

 a bat, I have since ascertained that the mate of the bird met with 

 the same fate. 



Page 8, No. 8. 

 Kerivoula picta, Painted Bat. 



Jerdon's description of this butterfly-like bat is as follows : 

 " No. 53, Kerivoula picta, the Painted Bat. 



Description. " Fur fine, woolly ; above yellowish-red or golden 

 rufous ; beneath less brilliant and more yellow ; wing membranes, 

 inky-black with rich orange stripes along the fingers, extending 

 in indentations into the membrane. 



Length, 3-^ inches, of which the tail is 1 T % ; expanse 10 : fore- 

 arm 1 T 3 ; tibia T 6 oth g ; ears -^ths. One measured, head and body 

 Ii 9 inches ; tail 1 \ ; forearm I T \J tibia T Vths >, expanse 10, 



