Bats, 195 
summer evening : this the old folk think an evil omen, 
and still worse if in its alarm at the attempts made to 
drive it away it should chance to knock against the 
candle and overturn or put it out. They think, too, 
that a bat seen in daytime is a bad sign. Once now 
and then one gets disturbed by some means in the 
tiles, and flutters in a helpless manner to the nearest 
shelter ; for in daylight they seem quite at a loss, 
though flying so swiftly at night. 
The greater bat hawks at a considerable elevation 
above houses and trees, and wheels and turns with 
singular abruptness, so that some think it a test of 
a good shot to bring them down. The reason, how- 
ever, why many find it difficult to hit a bat is because 
they are unaccustomed to shoot at night, and not 
because of its manner of flight, for it often goes quite 
straight. It is also believed to be a test of good 
hearing to be able to hear the low shrill squeak of the 
bat uttered as it flies: the same is said of the shrew 
mouse, whose cry is yet more faint and acute. The 
swift, too, has a peculiar kind of screech, but easily 
heard. 
Beyond the stables are the cattle-sheds and cow- 
yards. These sheds are open on the side towards the 
yard, supported there by a row of wooden pillars 
stepped on stones to keep them from rotting. On 
the large cross-beams within the swallows make their 
nests. When the eggs are hard set, the bird will sit 
so close that with care and a gentle manner of 
o2 
