Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 1 (1897).djvu/221

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Of all insectivorous bats this species appeared to be the one most common in Arnhem Land. On Daly river the greatest numbers were observed, especially round the houses of the lonely Jesuits' mission station "Uniya," where they literally swarmed. Just at sunset they commenced flying, and during their flight they never arose to any considerable height, mostly keeping so close to the ground that a short stick would serve as a means for knocking them down. Their flight is feeble and fluttering, with sudden darts upward when catching an insect. Now and then a little squeak is uttered very similar to that of a mouse.

A few specimens occurred around Roebuck Bay. Although the coast of Dampier Land, especially in the rainy season, seemed exceedingly rich in insects, the insectivorous bats, on the whole, were remarkably few in number.

All these little bats were procured in the immediate neighbourhood of Roebuck Bay, and none of the species were numerous. As I have mentioned before, the insectivorous bats were here remarkably few in number. Only now and then a bat would be seen against the golden evening sky, never arising to any considerable height, and during my stay only one or two specimens of each species were obtained. Only once in Arnhem Land did I see a bat which I believe was the Chalinolobus, but I failed in securing it.

The dismal howl of the Dingo is one of the characteristic features of a night in tropical Australia. In Arnhem Land, on Victoria River, and around Roebuck Bay, the Wild Dog was common, but mostly occurred singly or in pairs, the large packs described in the tales of bushmen as haunting Central Australia having never been observed by the author.

The hot day is usually spent sleeping in the shade of an anthill or in a patch of long grass, and sundown is the signal for the dogs to commence hunting. It is a common belief that the Dingoes literally hunt their prey down in packs, but no such proceeding ever came to my notice. The food of the Dingo in