160 PHCENIX PAEK. 



wings at the distance of a foot or two ; and sails 

 away to procure his insect-supper. Another im- 

 mediately follows the first, and at his heels is another, 

 and another, until perhaps half a dozen are out. Then 

 there is a pause for some little time, during which 

 more scrambling is heard, and presently another 

 leader emerges with a "tail" of three or four more 

 in Indian file ; — and so on till about fifteen have 

 come forth, — the whole household. I judge that 

 they crawl along one after another in a straight line 

 to the outlet, in parties. 



After having witnessed the exit of the party on 

 one or two evenings, and been assured by my friends 

 that the same performance was nightly repeated, I 

 determined to essay the capture of some specimens to 

 ascertain the species. The hole in the eaves was 

 within reach of the top of the steps, where I sta- 

 tioned myself with an insect net about sunset, to the 

 no small interest of the children. We presently 

 heard one slowly scuffling along upon the plaster, 

 making a smothered chirping sound : this enabled 

 us to trace his progress by the ear, and when he 

 seemed to be near the hole, I held up the gauze net 

 in front. The sight of this, however, evidently de- 

 terred the Bat, for he remained at the mouth chirp- 

 ing, but without attempting a flight. At length I 

 removed the net to the distance of a foot or two, 

 holding it in act to strike. He now ventured forth, 

 thinking the coast clear, but the projecting eaves 

 compelled him to fly downward, and I was alert 

 enough to receive him into the bag of the net. It 

 proved a Molossus, of chestnut-coloured fur, and 



