Bawk of bats

"Flittering bats, fieldmice bawk talk"

First it is the bats that flitter about and the mice that bawk talk. Then it turns into "bawk of bats", as if in the confusion of the onset of night things become confused. As the two women turn into a tree and stone these nocturnal animals turn into each other.

Bats are sometimes called 'flying mice' ('bat' in German is 'Fledermaus' - flying mouse).

Bats are also blind and rely on sound (echolocation) to navigate in the dark (much like the sleeping Earwicker).

The "bawk of bats" then turns into a more nightmarish "Dark hawks". In the fading light it is easy for the imagination to run wild and turn harmless bats and mice into frightening hawks.