SHREWS AND BATS 289 



through the shaft that pierces the depth of the 

 great tope at Sarnath and see the sunlight sifting 

 down through the gauzy wings of a throng of 

 startled bats, fluttering in alarm over the invasion 

 of their fastness. 



Shortly after they have come out for the night, 

 bats often for a time flutter about over ponds, 

 and at intervals dip down to take something from 

 the surface, and as the habit is not peculiar to the 

 small insectivorous species, but is shared by the 

 great fruit-bats, it must in some cases be connected 

 with drinking, and not the outcome of attempts 

 to secure floating or swimming prey. I only once 

 saw a bat swim, and then the performance was 

 in no way connected with the above-mentioned 

 habit, but was the result of the fact that the 

 swimmer had come out whilst the light was still 

 so strong as to bewilder him. Whilst I was on 

 the bank of the pond where he came to grief, 

 my attention was attracted by a strange object 

 far out over the surface of the water, and steadily 

 advancing towards me at considerable speed and 

 with a strangely jerking motion. As it neared the 

 bank it resolved itself into the head and fore- 

 quarters of a small bat, who was oaring his way 

 along by vigorous strokes of his half expanded 

 wings. As he neared the shore, a crow, who had 

 also been watching his progress with much interest, 

 made an attempt to secure him, so that I had to 



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