288 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



•NOTES ON THE HABITS OF THE GREATER HORSE- 

 SHOE BAT (KHINOLOPHUS FERRUM-EQUINUM). 



By Bruce F. Cummings. 



During the past winter I explored, with two friends, some 

 disused manganese mines (in what is known as the Pickwell 

 Down Sandstone) which are situated in a deep valley run- 

 ning from east to west, about nine miles north-east of Barn- 

 staple. I had the good fortune of being quite successful in the 

 object of the exploration, viz. the finding of Bats. However, 

 I met with only Khinolophus ferrum-equinum, but an acquaint- 

 ance had some years before found Lesser Horseshoes and one 

 other species in these same mines. 



The mines were not extensive, but long enough to add a 

 tinge of adventure to our expeditions. They consisted of three 

 borings running into the side of a hill, the entrances being on a 

 level with the ground outside, and of four or five shafts, into 

 which we were lowered by means of a rope. One passage (the 

 largest of all) is impregnable on account of water ; in places it 

 must be, I should think, over seven feet deep, so wading was out 

 of the question. 



I met with only about six specimens, two of which I secured. 

 The first was in what I will call boring A, hanging from the top 

 of one side of the passage. All the others hung from the same 

 part, never from the roof, and usually with their faces to the 

 wall. As soon as I saw it, it drew up by bending the joints of 

 the hind limbs. Thinking it was awake, I quickly boxed him. 

 But later Mr. T. A. Coward, to whom I am indebted for help and 

 advice and a valuable correspondence on the subject of Horse- 

 shoe Bats, informed me that it draws up in this way even when 

 asleep, and this I soon found to be the case. This is apparently 

 a pure reflex action. 



I kept this Bat in captivity between December 24th and 

 29th, 1906, on which date it died. I kept it in a very cold 



