The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-12-14
INFORMATION
ABOUT Bull BATS
Florida Health Notes Gives 'S6ms
About That Insect Destroy


ttt ~ ing bird. ,sossh4 8tlE1
Florida Health Notes, the official
organ of the State Board Of Health, lin
the November issue, contains thepfol-
lowing interesting information about
bull bats, by Prof. W.. B. Hinton, Of
this city: t it A ~ apos
''Mr. W. B. Hinton, Of Miami, has
been a lifelong lover Of birds and stu
dent Of their habits He is q charming
conversationalist, and when discussing
his favorite theme is always at his
best. ] am indebted to himc for most
of the following Information concern
ing the bull bat. M dsa8
"This bird, with which we are famils
lar, has no fewer than four common
names--bull bat, night hawk, night jar
and goat sucker, Its scientific name Is
Chordeiles Virginiaus
1.-THE bull bat feeds In the late after
noon and early evening, sometimes also
on cloudy days. Its food Is exclusively
insects, which are always taken on the.
wing. He flies rather high in the early
part Of his feeding hours, but Rfadu-
ally descends as night approaches. The
bull bat has short bill, but very wide
mouth, and growing round the mouth
is rim Of bristles, forming sort OF
funnel which serves to guide insects
into the mouth during rapid flight.
when bull bats are feeding every
little while they flop their wings two or
three times in rapid succession. and It
the same time utter a sharp sound,
while at intervals further apart they
seem to start down with fearful
and, coming almost 70 the
earth, shoot as rapidly upward again
into the air, at the same time making
2 Earring sound, sometimes like the
believing Of bull---indeed, Il IL from
his that the name bull bat Ia given.
Only the males do this, and they only
1t the counting season.
"The bull bat makes a nest on the
ground in an open place, but choosing
\ gray spot where the colors are 90 Ike
mis- own gray that 1t 10 almost impossi-
Die to see the bird or find the nest, not
the fact that II is concealed
only by its colors. They lay two egRs
"As before said bull bats feed dur
ng the late afternoon. At this time
mosquitoes are taking fight. Those
hat have just Matched are mating.
LHSy HlhJe iu the open. 1nOBe tnat
rave mated are going TO and fro in the
,arth to see what they can devour.
Those that have devoured other peo-
BE s substance with riotous living ara
eeking place to deposit eggs. The
Whole mosquito world is busy, and the
'ull bats taking advantage Of the COM
notion, feed TO the limit of their de-
Tres. This Is not a simple fancy but q.
'roven fact. Bull bats have been killed
md the contents OF the crop examined
nd found to be almost exclusively mos
uitOes. .r Ept
There is no reason why the bull bat,
hould ever be killed. Like other birds
hat live on an exclusively insect diet.
/ is not suited for food. Nor does il do
my harm in the commonwealth. But
N the contrary, Is Instrumental In the
destruction of mosquitoes, n most in.
etelate foe TO our comfort and a most
eadly dissemination OF disease. AS It
! an important factor in sanitation,
his bird should not be killed under any
circumstances, but its propagation
hould be encouraged. 1t is amply proc
ected by law in this State, and all good
itiZens should see to il that this law Is
and the pernicious habit of
illing bull bats for sport forever swept
ito oblivion III