the Kerivoula pieta is an arboreal Bpecies, certainly resting during 

 the day among dense foliage, and more than probably taking its 



food in similar situations. It would be interesting to know if those 

 which Dr. Kelaart hns seen clinging to the plantain frail had chosen 

 that as a resting place, or wen- in search of insects which might feed 

 mi the fruit; for we cannot suppose that the Hats would be feeding 



mi the latter: they are too purely insectivorous in their structure. 

 Of another species inhabiting South Africa, A', lanota, Dr. \ 



Smith says that it frequents "a wooded district stretching along the 

 sea-shore about 200 miles from Cape Town. Like other Bpecies of 

 the genus, it appears as night sets in, and may then be Been Bitting 

 from spot to spot along the open spaces which exist here and there 

 in different parts of the forest." 



These short extracts comprise all that I can learn of the habits of 

 the genus under consideration; but such as they are, they tend tc 

 corroborate my previous supposition, derived from observing the ob- 

 pious similarity of the organs of flight to those of some of the llhi- 

 nnlophi, one species of which I have observed in a state of nature. 



"When we look at the considerable development of the cutaneous 

 BTStem, and its delicate nature, and the ample organs of flight with 

 their slender digits, in the genus Kerivoula, we can readily perceive 

 thai they are not well-suited for exposed flight, but that they would 

 he admirably adapted for flitting amongst the boughs and leaves of 

 trees; and the existence of numerous lines and papillae, probablj 

 nerves of sensation, in the membranes, would render them highly 

 delicate organs of touch, and a safe protection against the injuries 

 which their slender members might otherwise sustain in such pin 

 All the membranes of this and the allied genera Furipterus, Natalus, 

 and Hyonycteris are elaborately veined and dotted, just as in the 

 Hone-shoe Bat ; and I have had a good opportunity of witni - 

 the extraordinary powers of flight of the latter. 



On one occasion I had liberated from a box in my usual Bitti 

 room a Pipistrelle and a "Leaser Horseshoe Bat . The former Hew 

 directly against the glass of the window, just as a bird does, and re- 

 peated the attempt to escape several times. The Horseshoe /t»f, 

 instead of doing this, although it approached very near to the glass, 

 never even so much as touched it with the tips of its wings \ and I 

 could distinctly see it pass in front of each pane so near as almost 

 to touch it, but at the same time avoid the prominent woodwork of 

 the window. Under and amongst the tables and chairs it passed 

 with perfect ease, touching nothing, and behind the window curtains 

 in a similar manner, although there was* scarcely an inch of space 

 between them and the wall: At length, when flitting in from ol 

 some book-shelves from which I had just removed an octavo volume 

 (Temminck's Birds of Europe), it seemed, if I may use the express 



-ion, tO /eel the vacant space, and passed in and out again without, 

 I believe, even so lunch as touching the \oluiiie- oil either side. 



Mi. Blyth has observed of Natterer's Bai that it occasional!) 



"Mapped against a glass case" while flying round a room. 1 hav< 



CCCLXVIII. — Proceedings 01 racZooLOGK llSocii nr. 



