BATS 41 



share of attention from the zoologists. Neverthe- 

 less, after looking through a large amount of 

 literature on the subject, the old idea persists that 

 we know little about the bat — little, that is to say, 

 compared with all there is to be known. How very 

 little my own researches can add to its life history 

 these meagre observations and comments will serve 

 to show. 



Walking by the Test, near Longparish, one 

 evening, I noticed a number of noctules, our great 

 bat, gathered at a spot where some high trees, elms 

 and beeches, grew on the edge of a wet meadow. 

 The bats were flying up and down in front of the 

 trees, feasting on the moths and other insects that 

 abounded there. I wondered how it came about 

 that these big bats had this rich table all to them- 

 selves, seeing that the small common bat is by far 

 the most numerous species in that locality. After 

 I had stood there watching them for a few minutes 

 a common bat appeared, and at once began flying 

 to and fro among them ; but very soon he was 

 spotted and attacked by a big bat, and then began 

 the maddest chase it was possible to see, the little 

 one doubling wildly this way and that, now mount- 

 ing high in the air, then plunging downward to the 

 grass, anon losing himself in the trees, to reappear 

 in a few moments with his vicious persecutor 

 sticking so close that the two often seemed like one 

 bat. Finally, they went away out of sight in the 

 distance, and keeping my eyes in the direction they 

 had gone, I saw the big one return alone in about 



