MAMMALIA 3 



occasions seen a species which I supposed to be Daubenton's 

 Bat. Thus on November 16, 1889, between half-past four and 

 half-past five, I watched three Bats at Whin's Pond, which 

 appeared to be identical with this species. They flew actively 

 over the water, frequently dipping, sometimes two or three 

 times in succession, apparently feeding, their shadows being 

 reflected as they hovered over the water, and the motion of 

 their wings recalling the flight of the Common Sandpiper. 

 They flew uniformly low over the water. Sometimes one would 

 approach the margin of the lake, but they seemed to obtain 

 most of their prey in the centre of the lake. 



REDDISH-GREY BAT. 



Vespertilio natteri, Kuhl. 



Early in August 1886 a numerous colony of this Bat was 

 discovered by Mr. A. Smith to have become established in an 

 outhouse, in immediate proximity to the chimney of the gas- 

 works at Castletown. Of three living specimens sent up to me 

 one happened to escape in a room during the afternoon of its 

 arrival, and flew restlessly to and fro with a light and petulant 

 flight. Although, of course, entirely unaccustomed to its new 

 and strange environment, this bat constantly and with consider- 

 able dexterity avoided coming into contact with any external 

 body, until it happened to reach the window-panes, when it 

 appeared to be spurred with the hope of escape, fluttering 

 against the panes with all the eagerness of a bird that fails to 

 understand the substantiality of the transparent barrier opposed 

 to its desired exit. Subsequently resuming its interrupted 

 flight, the Bat gyrated freely in all directions, usually flying at 

 a height of 10 or 12 feet, and wheeling to and fro with enviable 

 grace and buoyancy. 



Mr. Duckworth subsequently observed an example which had 

 strayed into a room at Castletown, probably one of those previ- 

 ously evicted from the outhouse. 



The species has not been met with since in the neighbour- 

 hood of Rockliffe, but as its discovery in 1886 was accidental, 

 the probability is that it still frequents the neighbourhood. 



