BATS. 



85 



and takes enormous numbers of gnats and insects found in 

 low-lying situations ; whilst the Long-eared bat (Plecotus 

 aiLritiiS)^ which is not very common, makes a speciality of 

 the Micro-lepidoptera, hovering like a kestrel when in 

 pursuit of them.. The Great Horseshoe Bat (R/n'noIopIuis 

 ferriLm-equimtvi) devours enormous quantities of chafers. 



From these general observations it will be seen that, 

 the food of British bats consists almost wholly of insects, 

 and that many of these are among the well-known pests to 

 agriculture. 



As in the case of bats, the influence of the Frog [Rana 

 temporarm)^ and the Toad [Bufo vulgaris) is altogether on the 

 side of the farmer. No insect -is too small nor too large for 

 these creatures to appreciate. The quantities of tiny hoppers 

 which they destroy is enormous, and no species of worm, 

 caterpillar, moth, fly, or grub comes amiss to them. It 

 would hardly be practicable to erect toad-houses on a farm, 

 but this is often actually done by nurserymen and gardeners 

 — and with the very best results. In a greenhouse a toad is 

 a m.ost effective scavenger, and its power of destroying black 

 beetles is far superior to that of the hedgehog. What 

 applies to the toad applies to the frog, and if we knew of the 

 immense benefits which the armies of frogs and toads bestow 

 on our fields and pastures they would be held in widely 

 different esteem to what they are. There is scarcely any 

 low form of life found in our fields which the frog does not 

 appreciate as food, and his appetite is insatiable. 



THE END. 



