The Guardian/1920/07/16/Country Diary

15.

At the close of these long July days, before the light has really faded, pipistrelle bats fly in swift circles round the trees or flicker to and fro amongst houses and outbuildings, hunting crepuscular flies, beetles, and moths. Their mammalian flight is quite distinct from that of birds, for they have a much simpler wing, merely a great hand with its long fingers united by membrane. They beat the air with this widespread hand, dodging to and fro. The bigger noctule flies higher, joining the swifts before they have retired for the night; its action is similar but its flight more direct than that of smaller bats. It cannot compete with the swift in speed, but it makes wonderful dives and snaps up even quick-flying beetles.

The yellow flower from the Little Orme, sent by a Bournville correspondent, is the kidney-vetch or Lady’s fingers, a useful plant in pastures, quite wholesome for cattle. The colour varies considerably, some flowers being tinged with red or orange. The other plant, from the Great Orme, is the small-flowered crane's-bill or geranium.

T.A.C.