GREAT BAT. 19 



ample accommodation in old buildings might have been 

 found, and indeed was made use of by other species, 

 but not a single Noctule took advantage of it, from which 

 we may reasonably suppose, that although buildings may 

 be occasionally made use of as a resting-place during 

 the day, that this is only the case in the absence of trees 

 which will aiford sufficient accommodation. 



The Noctule is gregarious in its habits, associating in 

 considerable numbers, and seeking its retreat sometimes 

 in the hollows of trees, at others under the roofs and 

 eaves of houses. Pennant states that he was informed 

 by the Rev. Dr. Buckhouse, that he saw taken from 

 under the eaves of Queen's College, Cambridge, one 

 hundred and eighty-five in one night : but as there is 

 no reason to believe that these were all submitted to the 

 rigid examination necessary to detect the specific distinc- 

 tions of these animals, it is probable that other species 

 were mingled with them in this great congregation. It 

 is, however, particularly stated, that of all those which 

 were measured, the extent of the wings was fifteen 

 inches ; and repeated observation has led us to believe 

 that two gregarious species are rarely, if ever, found 

 together. In the second night, sixty-three were taken. 

 The flight of this Bat is remarkably high and rapid, and 

 its cry when on the wing is sharp and harsh. It was 

 observed by White to emit a very ofi'ensive odour. It 

 remains in activity for a shorter time than any other, . 

 coming abroad later and retiring earlier : White says 

 that he never saw it till the end of April, nor -later than- 

 July, but its appearance in the spring and disappearance_ 

 in the autumn depend entirely on the mildness of the 

 season. The earliest note we have of its appearance is 

 the 12th of March, and the 18th of September is the 

 latest date we have on record of its appearance. In 



D 2 



