ON BATS. HI 



but hitherto overlooked, by being so far removed from the 

 others. On future observation must depend the place to 

 which the bats should be properly consigned in the syste- 

 matic arrangement of quadrupeds. If some species only 

 are found to possess four papilla?, it would be a very con- 

 siderable violence to nature to divide them on this account: 

 and yet to retain them undivided in the order of primates, 

 according to the Linnaean definition, would be inconsistent: 

 but on this part of the subject there is no necessity of en- 

 larging until we become more enlightened. 



It is probable the papillee of all the smaller bats are so Teats not 

 contracted, except at the time of administering no u rjqh- easily disco- 

 ment to their young, that they are not discoverable with when'suck^' 

 the utmost attention, for even in the v. ferriim-equinum no ling. 

 pectoral teats were to be discovered, although the sexual 

 distinction was sufficiently evident. But this very con- 

 tracted state of these parts, when nature has no demand for 

 the use assigned to them, is not peculiar 4o these volant 

 quadrupeds, since we find the same difficulty in discovering 

 them in mice. 



These bats were taken in a large cavern near Torquay in The two spe- 

 Devonshire, commonly known by the appellation of Kents- cies found iu 

 hole, and where both species are usually observed in con- p | aCG without 

 siderable abundance clinging to the vaulted roof of the in- any other, 

 terior apartments. This vast cavern was explored with a 

 view to obtain whatever species of vespertilio might \ 

 inhabit it, and with expectation of procuring speci- 

 mens of v. barbastellus, and possibly some new species, 

 having been informed trie cave abounded in number and 

 variety. Strange, however, as it may appear, not a single 

 instance occurred of any other species becoming an inhabi- 

 tant of this dark and frightful region. 



It should therefore appear, that these two bats are as con- 

 genial in their animal temperature, as they are similar in 

 habit; and that in constitution they essentially differ from 

 all the other British species. 



It is well known, that all places impervious to light, and Resort to ca- 

 destitute of a free circulation of air, can neither be sud- v.erns from 

 denly heated nor suddenly cooled by the changes of atmos- chan^e^f 051 "^ 

 pheric temperature, and that the vicissitudes of sucli a cli- temperature. 



mate 



