DENIZENS OF A BEECH GROVE 83 



moment later a Noctule spreads its wings, drops for a few feet, and swings 

 upwards and away into the evening air. Soon another follows, and another, 

 and another, each one allowing himself to drop for several feet and thus gain 

 impetus before winging his way through the trees. 



It is quite an uncanny experience to look into a bat's den and see the 

 forms of the bats hanging head downwards from the roof, or moving slowly 

 and silently about the walls of their home. The scent of such a den is extremely 

 unpleasant a queer sickly medicinal smell that is, as far as I know, not to be 

 encountered elsewhere. 



When the bats realize that an enemy is at their door, their movements 

 become more rapid, whilst an atmosphere of anxiety comes over them. First 

 one and then another will prepare to make a dash for freedom, only to scuttle 

 back into the darkness if the intruder should make any sudden movement. 

 Presently a little wrinkled bull-dog face will appear at the threshold its thick 

 upper lip quivering, its tiny deep-set eyes shining in terror ; then like a flash 

 it starts back, its sharp little teeth bared, its head well back between the 

 shoulders. Attempt to touch it, and you will most assuredly be bitten 

 although, since the bat's teeth are quite short, no more serious damage will be 

 done than the loss of a little blood entails. 



Noctule Bats certainly look evil little creatures ; but after all they are not 

 responsible for their forms or faces, and the female Noctule is a most devoted 

 parent. 



When the single young one is first born it clings to the underside of its 

 mother's body with its tiny claws, and to her breast with its as yet toothless 

 gums, and in this manner it is carried by the mother when she takes her nocturnal 

 flights. It runs no risk of becoming detached, for it clings on with the 

 most extraordinary tenacity, and in fact can only be pulled off with difficulty. 

 These newly-born little bats are even more gargoyle-like than their parents, 

 for they are quite hairless and are covered with a pinkish, wrinkled skin. When 

 they are sufficiently developed they are left behind when their mothers go out 

 for the evening hunt. By this time they are covered with a very short mouse- 

 coloured fur, unlike their parent's, whose coat is a rich chestnut colour. I 

 have looked into a bat's den on a summer evening, when the females had left 

 for the night, and seen some two or three dozen young bats, as yet unable to 

 fly, squirming and writhing within ! 



During my varied experiences of these bats I have not yet discovered a 

 colony in which both sexes were present that is to say, the colonies were invari- 

 ably composed entirely of males or entirely of females. One day I may be 

 lucky enough to discover a mixed colony. 



It is a common belief that the bat, if placed upon flat ground, is, on account 

 of the shortness of its legs, unable to fly. I well remember, years ago, taking 

 two Noctule Bats home with me to see if this was so. One of them I placed 



