Australian flying foxes These little bats, roosting in a row reminded me of the old childrens rhyme 'Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary'. "With silver bells, and cockle shells, and pretty maids, all in a row". Only in this instance, it's pretty bats, all in a row! I think these particular bats (the colony was made up of several species) are Pteropus alecto - the black flying fox.