MODE IN WHICH BATS SECURE THE IB PBEY. 473 



large and powerful T. pronuba, brought its feet so far forward 

 that it fell over on to its back, but pluckily held the moth in its 

 pouch until it was secured. Owing to the late hour at which it 

 appears in the evening, it is not easy to distinguish the actions of 

 this Bat as it skims over the shady pools which are its favourite 

 haunts. It probably subsists to a large extent on gnats and 

 other insects which fly just above the surface of the water and 

 are too small to necessitate the use of the interfemoral pouch. 

 Its behaviour in captivity shows, however, that, when occasion 

 requires, this method of securing its prey is readily and effectually 

 adopted. Daubenton's Bat has the tail only slightly curved 

 during flight, to about the same extent as the Pipistrelle, less 

 than the Whiskered and Long-eared Bats, and more than the 

 Noctule, which holds its tail almost straight behind it. In his 

 account of Daubenton's Bat, Tomes says (Bell, ' British Quadru- 

 peds,' 2nd edit. p. 64) : — " When a fly or other food was taken 

 which was rather large, the carpus was always brought into use 

 to do the office of a hand, and the food was pushed into the 

 mouth with it." This is entirely opposed to my experience, for 

 neither this Bat nor any of the other species I have kept has 

 ever made use of either carpus or foot in feeding. 



The Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) is abundant in the 

 neighbourhood of Alderley Edge, and I have kept several for a 

 few days at different times during the past summer. The habit 

 under consideration is much less pronounced in this species than 

 in those already mentioned. My captives used to seize and eat 

 mealworms quite openly, but on one occasion a particularly large 

 and vigorous worm was thrust into the pouch. Thin-bodied 

 moths (Larentia fluctuata and Cidaria populata) were also seized 

 and eaten openly, as was a male Hepialus sylvinus ; but larger 

 moths (T. pronuba, Polia chi, and other Noctuce) were pouched 

 before being eaten. 



The Noctule (Pipistrellus noctula) occurs commonly at Aider- 

 ley Edge, but my efforts to obtain one alive have so far been 

 unsuccessful. This Bat comes abroad early, and during the long 

 midsummer evenings is silhouetted so clearly against the sky 

 that the contour of its ears may be seen distinctly. Under such 

 favourable conditions I have spent hours watching Noctules, both 

 with the naked eye and with a strong glass, but have never seen 



