196 MAMMALIA. 



first directed tlieir tlight towartls the ri\c;r. iiii(l()ii])tedl\- to damp 

 their mouse-like snouts, but not tlieir spirits, for it was likewise 

 observed that they returned to play hide-and-sec^k and indulge in 

 all other ima^;inable gambols ; when, after gratif\ing their love 

 of sport and satisfying their \oracious appetites (as the absence of 

 mosquitoes and gnats testified) the)- woultl re-enter their habita- 

 tion, again to emerge at the first signal of their feathered trumpet- 

 er. I thus ascertained one ver\- important fact, namcK-, that the 

 bat, or the species whicli anno\ed us, ateanti drank twice in twenty- 

 four hours." After resorting to man\- ineffectual expedicMits in the 

 vain attempt to rid his home of these multitudinous pests, he 

 caused " all the holes, lissurt;s in the wood-work, and apc^rtures in 

 the slating to be hermc^ticall)- seaUxl with cement. idiis put a stop 

 to their egress, but to avoid thcAv d\ing b\- star\-ation and dc;pri\a- 

 tion of water, wliich would much increase the annoNance b\' 

 adding their dead to their li\ing stench, I ordered apertures of 

 about two feet scpiare to be opened in the lathed and plastered 

 partition on each side of the garret windows and also in tlie ceihng 

 of every garret room ; lastl\-, when the bat's re\eille was sounded 

 by the bugle of the whippoorwill, all thc! hands of our establish- 

 ment, men and boss, c^ach armcul with a woocUmi implement (shaped 

 like; a cricket-bat), marched to the third lloor 'on munkn-ous dc;t:ds 

 with thoughts intent'; a lighted lantern was placed in the middle 

 of one of the rooms, divested of all furniture, to allure; tlu; hidden 

 foe from their strongholds. After closing the window to prevent 

 all escape into the open air, the assailants distributed tlumiselves 

 at regular distances to avoid clubbing each other, awaited the 

 appearance of the bats, enticed into the room b\- the artificial li<Tht 

 and impelled by their own natural craving. The slaughter com- 

 menced and progressed with sanguinar)- vigor for several hours, or 

 until brought to a close by the weariness of dealing the blows that 

 made the enemy bite the dust, and overpowered by the heat and 

 closeness of the apartment. Hiis {)lan succeeded perfectly. After 



