CHAPTER XXXVII 



Bats Drinking dew Superstitions A Nature-lesson Powers of vision 

 Noctule and Rooks Bat chased by an Owl Edible Swifts' nests Bats, 

 Swifts, and Birds of prey in Borneo Cockchafer and Bat A chain of 

 destruction. 



RETURNING from a night's sugaring in the woods, one 

 early morning in mid June, some years ago it did not 

 happen to be in Wales, but that is of little consequence 

 I came upon a Bat walking about amongst the grass by the 

 side of the path. What it had been about there was not 

 obvious ; it was in no way incapacitated from flight, and 

 could have had no difficulty in rising from the ground had 

 it wished to do so ; but as it seemed to have no inclination 

 that way, but to be bent on continuing its perambulations 

 a-foot, I sat down, near by, to watch it. It gave me the 

 impression that it was sipping the drops of dew that 

 plentifully bespangled the grass ; but either it had satisfied 

 its immediate wants, or else my presence disturbed it, for 

 it shuffled through the longer herbage, and began to climb 

 up the face of a wall that bounded that side of the way. 

 Having gained an elevation of some three feet thereon, 

 clear of the tops of the weeds, it did not, as might have 

 been expected, take wing ; but cleverly reversing its position, 

 and hanging head downwards, suspended by the feet to 

 a rough bit of mortar, very deliberately began to make its 

 toilet. Every part of the body within reach was licked 

 clean from any dust or moisture that adhered to it, especial 

 attention being paid to the flying membrane, the wings 

 being partly unfolded and drawn beneath the body for the 

 purpose. The process was quite a long one ; and ere it had 

 been completed, truth compels me, regretfully, to state that 

 the observer had dozed at his post. When he awoke 

 again, the sun was shining full on the wall, but there still 



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