3 g8 SHREWS, MOLES AND BATS 



wing expanse of five feet. In describing the Australian Fruit Bats 

 (P. poliocephalus) Professor H. N. Moseley writes " In a dense piece 

 of bush, consisting principally of young trees, the trees were hung 

 all over with these bats, looking like black fruits. As we drew near, 

 the bats showed signs of uneasiness, and after the first shot were 

 rather difficult to approach, moving from before us and pitching 

 in a fresh tree some distance ahead. The bats uttered a curious 

 crackling sound when disturbed. They were in enormous numbers, 

 and although thousands had been shot by a large party got together 

 for the purpose, their numbers were not perceptibly reduced. 

 They do great harm to the fruit orchards about Parramatta, and 

 the fruit-growers there organise parties to shoot them." 



