WILD LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 199 



in a helpless manner to the nearest shelter ; for in 

 daylight they seem quite at a loss, though flying so 

 swiftly at night. 



The greater bat hawks at a considerable elevation 

 above houses and trees, and wheels and turns with 

 singular abruptness, so that some think it a test of 

 a good shot to bring them down. The reason, how- 

 ever, why many find it difficult to hit a bat is because 

 they are unaccustomed to shoot at night, and not be- 

 cause of its manner of flight, for it often goes quite 

 straight. It is also believed to be a test of good 

 hearing to be able to hear the low shrill squeak of the 

 bat, uttered as it flies ; the same is said of the shrew 

 mouse, whose cry is yet more faint and acute. The 

 swift, too, has a peculiar kind of screech, but easily 

 heard. 



Beyond the stables are the cattle-sheds and cow- 

 yards. These sheds are open on the side towards the 

 yard, supported there by a row of wooden pillars 

 stepped on stones to keep them from rotting. On the 

 large cross-beams within the swallows make their 

 nests. When the eggs are hard set the bird will sit 

 so close that with care and a gentle manner of ap- 

 proach you may sometimes even stroke her back 

 lightly with your finger without making her rise. 

 They become so accustomed to men constantly in 

 and out the sheds as to feel little alarm. Some build 

 their nests higher up under the roof-tree. 



To the adjoining rickyard redstarts come every 

 summer, building their nests there ; " horse-matchers " 



