ZOOLOGY. 13 



observed, at evening twilight, in vigorous pursuit of their 

 insect prey, turning and twisting in a most extraordinaiy 

 manner while so engaged, and afiordiag ample proof of the 

 wonderful power of wing with which Nature has en- 

 dowed them. On the 30th of January, 1852, a bat was 

 observed near the town of Hamilton, and from being the 

 only instance of its occurrence in that month, was probably 

 a straggler. 



"Prom the circumstance of the only two species yet 

 obtained being common to North America, viz., — ^the 

 Hoary Bat (Vespertilio pruinosus), and the Silver-haired 

 Bat (F. noctivagans), it may be considered beyond a doubt 

 that these interesting strangers come from that portion of 

 the globe. 



" Admitting such to be the case, let us -enquire how these 

 aeronauts have been enabled to cross an expanse of six or 

 eight hundred miles of ocean in order to reach the Ber- 

 mudas ; and whether we should regard them in the light of 

 accidental travellers blown off the American coast, or as 

 creatures guided by the hand of an AUwise Providence, 

 seeking instinctively, as we call it, a more southern 

 abode. 



"The following entry occurs in my journal, Dec. 14th, 

 1851. — On my way home I was joined by my neighbour 



Mr. B , and the master of an American vessel, recently 



arrived in distress from loss of sails. On allusion being 

 made to the bats I had observed on the road, the American 

 skipper mentioned, that in the preceding month of October, 

 while on a voyage from Newport to South Carolina, his 

 vessel being from 150 to 200 mUes from the American 

 coast, and the breeze blowing strong from the westward, a 



