Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 3 (1899).djvu/503

Rh large and powerful T. pronuba, brought its feet so far forward that it fell over on to its back, but pluckily held the moth in its pouch until it was secured. Owing to the late hour at which it appears in the evening, it is not easy to distinguish the actions of this Bat as it skims over the shady pools which are its favourite haunts. It probably subsists to a large extent on gnats and other insects which fly just above the surface of the water and are too small to necessitate the use of the interfemoral pouch. Its behaviour in captivity shows, however, that, when occasion requires, this method of securing its prey is readily and effectually adopted. Daubenton's Bat has the tail only slightly curved during flight, to about the same extent as the Pipistrelle, less than the Whiskered and Long-eared Bats, and more than the Noctule, which holds its tail almost straight behind it. In his account of Daubenton's Bat, Tomes says (Bell, 'British Quadrupeds,' 2nd edit. p. 64):—"When a fly or other food was taken which was rather large, the carpus was always brought into use to do the office of a hand, and the food was pushed into the mouth with it." This is entirely opposed to my experience, for neither this Bat nor any of the other species I have kept has ever made use of either carpus or foot in feeding.

The Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) is abundant in the neighbourhood of Alderley Edge, and I have kept several for a few days at different times during the past summer. The habit under consideration is much less pronounced in this species than in those already mentioned. My captives used to seize and eat mealworms quite openly, but on one occasion a particularly large and vigorous worm was thrust into the pouch. Thin-bodied moths (Larentia fluctuata and Cidaria populata) were also seized and eaten openly, as was a male Hepialus sylvinus; but larger moths (T. pronuba, Polia chi, and other Noctuæ) were pouched before being eaten.

The Noctule (Pipistrellus noctula) occurs commonly at Alderley Edge, but my efforts to obtain one alive have so far been unsuccessful. This Bat comes abroad early, and during the long midsummer evenings is silhouetted so clearly against the sky that the contour of its ears may be seen distinctly. Under such favourable conditions I have spent hours watching Noctules, both with the naked eye and with a strong glass, but have never seen