56 VESPERTILIONIDJ;. 



repose, as they presented a most singular scene of ac- 

 tivity, the constant endeavour of those outside being to 

 penetrate the mass, probably for warmth, and to do this 

 they were continually poking their noses between those 

 nearest to them, and then forcing in their bodies, to be 

 in their turn again pushed to the outside. In this 

 manner a regular bickering was kept up in the whole 

 mass. However, they seemed to be very gentle, and to 

 have no idea of biting or otherwise annoying each other. 



On the boarded floor in the tower adjoining this retreat 

 many dead ones were lying about, in a dried condition, 

 all of them very small and hairless. These probably 

 had fallen from their mothers when on the wing, as they 

 were themselves too young to have flown there, and the 

 parents could not have rested in this chamber, and at 

 that time let fall their young. 



After watching this remarkable assemblage for some 

 time, about sixty were secured in a bag (only a very 

 small proportion of the number there), and the bag was 

 opened in a lighted room in the evening. They were 

 soon flying about in all directions. On the window 

 being thrown open, those nearest to it at once flew out ; 

 but so completely gregarious are these Bats, that after 

 taking a turn or two outside they re-entered the room, 

 and being joined by others, again went forth, and again 

 returned, until all had become aware of the means of 

 escape, when the whole company left the room in a 

 cloud. We may add, as further showing the gregarious 

 nature of the species, that a few which were retained, 

 exhibited great uneasiness when separated from each 

 other, which disappeared when permitted to be together. 



The Natterer's Bat appears to be distributed over a 

 considerable part of Europe. In England it is by no 

 means rare, as the foregoing observations sufficiently 



