WILD CREATURES OF GARDEN AND HEDGEROW 



which they do it. First, it must be remembered 

 that the skin or membrane of a bat's wing 

 stretches from the ' fingers ' to the ' ankle 5 of 

 the hind foot, and from the foot to the tip of 

 the tail. When the tail is brought forward 

 under the body the skin on either side forms a 

 pouch or bag. It is called the interfemoral 

 membrane and the interfemoral pouch, the 

 word 'interfemoral' really meaning 'between 

 the thighs.' Now when a bat is flying along 

 and grabs an insect it drops its head down 

 into its pouch, where its prey cannot escape, 

 and, still flying, crunches it up. The whole 

 thing is done so quickly that it is very hard to 

 follow, but when watching bats in the twilight 

 you will often see them make a dash after an 

 insect, and then apparently tumble through 

 the air for a foot or two. This is when the 

 pouching is taking place, and if you are very 

 sharp-eyed you may even see more or less 

 what the bat does. My little pipistrelle had 

 hitherto caught and pouched all its food when 

 on the wing, and from habit felt compelled 

 to try and pouch the flies I gave it, though 

 sitting in an attitude that made this almost 

 impossible. The result was that time after 

 time it tumbled over, and would right itself 

 14 



