NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



suspending themselves from a perch, when deprived 

 of their eyes. 



\Vhether all the species of Insectivorous Bats in- 

 habiting South Africa hibernate in the country or 

 not is unknown. It is certain, however, that con- 

 siderable numbers of them do so, for on occasional 

 warm winter evenings they may be seen on the wing. 

 Bats have on many occasions been brought to me 

 which have been found in old outhouses, and up 

 under the roof in a loft of a dwelling. These speci- 

 mens were cold, and incapable of crawling or flying. 

 When warmed they regained their summer vigour 

 and energy, and when handled, attempted to bite, 

 and on being thrown into the air flew away. 



In Natal I have on several occasions found large 

 clusters of bats in caves and other sheltered, dark 

 recesses. They were all hanging suspended by the 

 hind claws. Some of them on sight of the light flew 

 away, but the majority remained hanging. During 

 a winter season recently in Port Elizabeth, a north- 

 west wind blew, which caused a sudden rise in the 

 temperature of the air. That evening I observed 

 several insect-eating bats hovering around the street 

 arc-lights ; and between the ceiling and the roof 

 of a stoep under which I was sitting, I heard the 

 shuffling and squeaking of bats, and saw two or three 

 issue out and take wing. 



The Fruit Bats in South Africa, on the con- 

 trary, do not hibernate during the winter months. 

 Throughout the neighbourhood of Port Elizabeth 



loo 



