158 Wild Life in a Southern County 



about old houses. Occasionally a bat will come into the 

 sitting-room, should the doors be left open on a warm 

 summer evening : this the old folk think an evil omen, 

 and still worse if in its alarm at the attempts made to 

 drive it away it should chance to knock against the candle 

 and overturn or put it out. They think, too, that a bat 

 seen in daytime is a bad sign. Once now and then one 

 gets disturbed by some means in the tiles, and flutters in 

 a helpless manner to the nearest shelter ; for in daylight 

 they seem quite at a loss, though flying so swiftly at night. 



The greater bat hawks at a considerable elevation 

 above houses and trees, and wheels and turns with singular 

 abruptness, so that some think it a test of a good shot to 

 bring them down. The reason, however, why many find 

 it difficult to hit a bat is because they are unaccustomed 

 to shoot at night, and not because of its manner of flight, 

 for it often goes quite straight. It is also believed to be 

 a test of good hearing to be able to hear the low shrill 

 squeak of the bat uttered as it flies : the same is said of 

 the shrew mouse, whose cry is yet more faint and acute. 

 The swift, too, has a peculiar kind of screech, but easily 

 heard. 



Beyond the stables are the cattle-sheds and cow-yards. 

 These sheds are open on the side towards the yard, sup- 

 ported there by a row of wooden pillars stepped on stones 

 to keep them from rotting. On the large cross-beams 

 within the swallows make their nests. When the eggs 

 are hard set, the bird will sit so close that with care and a 

 gentle manner of approach you may sometimes even stroke 

 her back lightly with your finger without making her rise. 

 They become so accustomed to men constantly in and out 

 the sheds as to feel little alarm. Some build their nests 

 higher up under the roof-tree. 



