A Large Bat 317 



with blood. Fragments of the elytra of beetles, found 

 beneath the nesting places of Bats, would seem to suggest 

 that such prey is frequently carried thither to be discussed 

 at leisure. In reference to so large a mouthful as a Cock- 

 chafer being occasionally taken, a friend once told me that 

 he had seen a Long-eared Bat carry off a male Ghost Moth 

 that was hovering near him, and that the wings, nipped off 

 close to the body, were dropped within a few yards. 



On 1 2th July 1906, a very large Bat flew close to me 

 near the head of Bala Lake, skimming low over the water 

 with a remarkably slow heavy flight. It appeared much 

 larger than any Noctule I ever saw, and was certainly not 

 of that species ; and as no other British Bat is known to 

 greatly exceed the Noctule in size, I am entirely at a loss to 

 know to what species this individual should be referred. I 

 once saw a similar Bat in the park at Welbeck Abbey my 

 notebook shows that it was on 2.7 th May 1899, which I have 

 no doubt was of the same species as this Llanuwchllyn 

 specimen. In that case, also, the slow owl-like flight was 

 particularly noticed, my comment made at the time being 

 that " the body was as large as a Missel Thrush, and the 

 wings very long and decurved ; and as it approached us in 

 an open ride, and passed over our heads within six feet or 

 so, it looked like a c young owl' ! It quite took me by 

 surprise, as I had never before seen such a beast upon the 

 wing, and was not in the least prepared for it. The old 

 man (a keeper who was with me) said he had once or twice 

 in his time seen c a large bat,' but considered them rare. It 

 was certainly much larger than a Noctule." 



