1S72.] CAPT. T. HUTTON ON HIMALAYAN BVT9. "01 



bet'ii attracted one evening in April to the lights in a room ; and a 

 pair were also taken in a loft at 6000 feet in September. From this 

 loft, the trap-door being left open, they used to issue every evening 

 about dusk, flying with a slow deliberate flight around the house, 

 and never departing to any great distance. They hawked about 

 only for a short time at intervals, retiring every now and then 

 to the loft. 



When captured alive, the large ears are kept in a constant state of 

 rapid tremulous motion, and the animal emits a low purring sound, 

 which becomes a sharp squeak when alarmed or irritated. The feet are 

 large, and furnished with long powerful claws of a pale hue. When 

 suspended at rest, the tail and interfemoral membrane are turned up, 

 not in front, like the Rhinolophi, but behind over the lower part of 

 the back ; neither does it appear to envelope itself in its wings so 

 completely as does Rh. Indus. 



I have observed in this, and in all the above-noticed Rhinolophi, 

 that when disturbed the whole of the facial crests are kept in a state 

 of constant agitation ; and as the animal hangs suspended by the 

 feet the head and muzzle are stretched forth and turned about in 

 every direction, as if for the purpose of sniffing out the presence of 

 danger, and ascertaining the cause of the disturbance. 



Coming out of its retreat before dark, and often, indeed, about or 

 just before sunset during the cloudy and thick misty weather of the 

 rainy season, it may frequently be seen leisurely wheeling with noise- 

 less, cautious, and slow steady flight around some wide-spreading 

 oak, attracted to the spot by the loud discordant note of a large 

 Cicada, or tree-cricket, which is abundant at that season in forest- 

 tracts above 5000 feet, and only pours forth its clamorous evening- 

 song just as the sun begins to dip below the horizon, continuing 

 its deafening and unmusical scream for about a quarter of an hour 

 after sunset, when it suddenly ceases altogether. 



It is during this dreadfully harsh concert, when almost every tree 

 sends forth its stunning notes, that this Bat emerges from its hiding- 

 place, wheeling round and round the trees, scanning each branch as 

 he slowly passes by, now rising to a higher circle, and then per- 

 chance descending to the lower branches, until at length, detecting 

 the unfortunate minstrel all unconscious of its danger and drowned 

 in its own melody, it darts suddenly into the tree, and snatching the 

 still screaming insect from its perch, bears it away, still harping upon 

 one string, and jerking out an occasional wailing note as the relent- 

 less Bat deliberately devours it on the wing. Should the swoop into 

 the tree be fruitless, the Cicada instantly darts forth to seek the 

 shelter of another tree, the Bat following its victim with a slow and 

 steady flight, which seems to say "I'll have you yet," and then 

 wheeling about the" tree as before, but at an increased distance, 

 patiently awaits the renewal of the song, which he no sooner hears 

 than he summarily puts a stop to the ear-splitting clamorous note 

 by effecting a seizure and bearing off his prey in triumph. 



Like Rh. affinis, this species may also frequently be heard during its 

 flight cracking and crunching the hard wings of Beetles, which in the 



