1907.] WINTER-HABITS OF CAVE-HAUNTING BATS. 317 



distance apart, from the wall of the Echo Cave ; the majority of 

 these bats were awake and others were on the wing. On 

 January 5th the number was smaller ; most of these bats were so 

 close together that six were dislodged at once by a stone thrown 

 from below. The Lesser Horseshoes in this cave may or may not 

 have moved in the interval between the visits ; they were roughly 

 in the same position on both dates. A Long-eared Bat, which, 

 when handled and replaced in the same position, appeared to be 

 in a deep sleep on the 31st, had gone by the second visit. An 

 unidentified bat was on the wing in the daytime just within 

 the entrance of Wookey Hole, a cave near Wells. 



Between December 24th, 1906, and January 23rd, 1907, 

 Mr. Cummings paid seven visits to the old mines near Barnstaple ; 

 he arrived independently at the conclusion that the bats were 

 not hibernating and were going outside the caves to feed. He 

 has kindly allowed me to add his notes. 



His observations were made at three borings. On December 24th 

 he found a single Greater Horseshoe in No. 1, but none in No. 2 ; 

 No. 3, the floor of which was under water, was not entered. On 

 December 29th No, 1 was unoccupied, but there were two bats in 

 No. 2 twenty-five yards from the entrance. The bats were not 

 touched, but when, later in the afternoon, he re-entered this 

 boring, he found one on the wing, and the other shortly followed 

 the first out of the tunnel. On January 5th there were again two 

 bats in No. 2. One occupied a similar position to that wlien first 

 noted, but the other had not returned to the same position. The 

 temperature in the open, on the date of this visit, was high, but 

 rain was falling steadily. The two bats, after Mr. Cummings had 

 taken them out of the tunnel to examine them, and had then 

 returned themto their original positions, were roused and driven 

 out of the cave ; they attempted to re-enter the cave three times, 

 but were apparently prevented from doing so by Mr. Cummings's 

 presence at the entrance. Mr. Cummings thought they objected 

 to the rain. Later in the afternoon he discovered two bats, which 

 showed by their manner of hanging with their wings by their 

 sides that they were not in deep sleep ; he feels sure they were 

 the bats driven out of No. 2. On January 11th No. 1 and No. 2 

 were empty, but a small bat entered No. 3 at about 5.20 p.m. and 

 shortly afterwards two Greater Horseshoes came out ; Mr. Cum- 

 mings had, again, not been able to enter No. 3. On January 16th 

 Nos. 1 and 2 were again unoccupied ; the temperature in the open 

 was on this and the previous visit 48" F. ; within the caves 52^ 

 and 53° F. At 5.30 p.m. two Greater Horseshoes, which came 

 from the direction of a deep shaft higher up the slope, passed the 

 entrance of No. 3. On January 19th, when the temperature in 

 the open had fallen to 40° and a cold east wind was blowing, no 

 bats were seen at the mouth of No. 3 between 5.10 and 5.45 p.m., 

 neither were any noticed between 5.15 and 5.45 p.m. on 

 January 23rd, when the temperature at the mouth of the cave was 

 33°, and it had been below freezing-point all day in the open. 



Proc. Zool. kSoc— 1 907, No. XXII. 22 



