18 FAUNA OF MAYFIBLD'S CAVE. 



The individuals become inactive and apparently settled for the winter 

 almost as soon as they arrive. October 3, 1903, three seemed to have 

 become established, as they were dull and stupid. I never saw bats 

 more inactive than these. Two noted October 26 (one at "2" and 

 another at "33") apparently did not move again all winter. I am sure 

 they did not change their positions after November 11. However, 

 after the bats return to the cave there is some fluctuation in numbers 

 seen and positions occupied until about the first of December, after 

 which they move very little or not at all. Many, at least in 1903-04, 

 remained in approximately the same situations throughout the winter. 

 An individual was observed to remain in an identical spot from November 

 20 to April 5. Several others were seen so often in the same place that 

 they became landmarks. During the winter I have never seen one of 

 this species fly or change its location in the least, except when disturbed 

 and thoroughly aroused. When disturbed by contact with some object 

 this bat sometimes moves its wings and opens its mouth in a threatening 

 manner. If the disturbance is kept up it may be induced to squeal. 

 If the disturbance is the heat from a lighted candle, the bat pushes 

 forward its wings and rubs its head with them as if to shield it from 

 the heat. If left alone then it very promptly dozes off again into its 

 winter's sleep. On one occasion (February 17, 1905) one at "22" was 

 pretty thoroughly but gradually warmed. It went through the usual 

 motions, as if to shield its head from the heat, and opened its mouth in 

 the usual threatening manner and squeaked its disapproval. An hour 

 later it had disappeared and could be found neither on the floor nor on 

 the roof in that part of the cave. 



During the latter part of the winter and the early spring the bats 

 become more 'active and are more easily disturbed. They sometimes 

 take wing when stimulated by the light alone and some of them can 

 readily be induced to fly when tormented. During April it was noticed 

 that at times they appeared more abundant than at others. It may be 

 that at this season they leave the cave at night and go to other localities, 

 perhaps again entering the cave in increased numbers to spend the day. 

 At any rate, during this season they are more abundant in the cave 

 at some times than at others. Later in the spring and during the 

 summer they are very seldom seen in the cave. 



Bats do not locate in the cave with any reference to the amount of 

 moisture. They are found in the driest and in the dampest portions. 

 In the moist parts of the cave globules of water sometimes form on the 

 fur until the little animals seem dripping wet and look white in the 

 lamp-light. 



