242 RECREATIONS OF A NATURALIST 



were trying to secure their prey. Five homeward- 

 bound specimens were secured in the cave about 

 twelve yards from the mouth. The stomach of one 

 specimen, opened within half an hour, contained 

 much fish in a finely divided and partially digested 

 state. . . . On the morning of the 31st I visited 

 the cave from which the specimens were procured 

 at 3 a.m., and found that the bats had apparently 

 forgotten the previous disturbance. They came 

 flying in in dozens, and two specimens were secured. 

 Both contained considerable quantities of fish. . . . 

 I have opened several other specimens of the bats, 

 and in the majority of cases fish scales were found ; 

 but the stomachs of two were perfectly empty. 

 This might be attributed to the absence of the 

 desired fish in the locality " [or to the fact that they 

 were shot before they had had time to catch any]. 



Referring to the mode in which the bats capture 

 the fish, Professor M'Carthy says: — 



" My opinion, from what I have ascertained 

 (though I have not actually seen the operation, I 

 have heard it) is, that the bats skim the surface, 

 peering at the same time into the water below. As 

 soon as fish are observed the interfemoral membrane 

 is let down, and occasions the ' swish ' so frequently 

 heard. At this time the fish is secured by the claws 

 immersed in the water, and is possibly raised with 

 the assistance of the membrane, and so held until 

 the mouth is reached down below the body, and the 

 fry devoured. I am inclined to attach more import- 

 ance to the use of the membrane as a means of 

 coming to a sudden stop, than as a lifting medium, 



