40 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



Bats flying near my own house in Hertfordshire ; and in the 

 north of Ireland Thompson states that it may frequently be 

 seen abroad in mid-winter. Occasionally it may be observed 

 fluttering about in a half-dazed state in the full sunlight. Al- 

 though, in the passage above-quoted, Macgillivray states that its 

 chief food consists of moths, we should rather be disposed to 

 consider that flies and gnats of various kinds form its main 

 subsistence. 



With regard to the number of young produced at a birth, 

 there appears to be a marked difference between Continental 

 and British examples. Thus, while Blasius states that all the 

 females with young examined by him on the Continent had 

 two, British specimens seem, as a rule, to produce but one ; 

 this being confirmed by the observations of Daniell in Eng- 

 land, and Hyndman (as quoted by Thompson) in Ireland. * 



Bell has noted the interesting fact that the tip of the tail in 

 this, and certain other Bats, affords assistance in climbing. 

 After mentioning that a small portion of the tail, in most mem- 

 bers of the present Family, projects beyond the edge of the 

 membrane connecting the hind-legs, he proceeds to observe 

 that " not only does the animal employ the tail in horizontal 

 progression — in which case it assists in throwing forward the 

 body, by being brought into contact with the ground on either 

 side alternately, corresponding with the action of the hinder 

 foot on the same side,— but in ascending and descending a 

 rough perpendicular surface, this little caudal finger holds by 

 any projecting point, and affords an evident support. This is 

 particularly conspicuous when the Bat is traversing the wires 

 of a cage, in which situation the fact was first observed." 



When flies or moths are offered to a captive Pipistrelle, 

 ihese are seized by the mouth alone without any aid from the 

 wings. The creature, after seizing its prey, bends down its 

 head upon the chest as if for the purpose of preventing their 



