SPECIES OF MAMMALS OF THE PACIFIC AREA 45 



to the thumb, between the fingers, from wrist to ankle, between 

 the toes, and from the end of the long outer toes to the tip of 

 the tail. This animal shows the highest development of the 

 gliding adaptation ; the membrane is much more extensive than 

 that found in the flying squirrels. Although it provides no mo- 

 tive power, the colugo can control its direction. It can glide 

 about seventy yards, and even in the still air of the forest loses 

 little altitude. The fur is very soft and fine. The color varies 

 from grayish to dark brown or chestnut mottled or blotched 

 with silvery white. Flying lemurs are nocturnal animals, living 

 chiefly on leaves and fruits. They are found from the Malay 

 Peninsula and Siam to the Philippines, Borneo, and Java. 



Bats. Order Chiroptera 



The bats are an old and very distinct order of mammals. 

 No other furred animals have wings or can actually fly. Those 

 other mammals which make use of air resistance, such as flying 

 lemurs, flying squirrels, and flying phalangers, glide by wide 

 "planes" of skin stretched between the front and hind limbs, 

 but none of these provides its own flying power. Different as 

 bat wings are structurally from those of birds, they are almost 

 as efficient. 



The wing of a bat consists of the framework, like the ribs 

 of an umbrella, formed by the greatly elongated bones of the 

 hand, fingers, and arm, and the thin, elastic, generally naked 

 skin which covers the frame and extends between the front and 

 hind limbs. An additional membrane, the interfemoral mem- 

 brane, often connects the tail with the hind legs but this may 

 be reduced or absent. The thumb is free, its claw hook-like. 

 The hind feet are provided with, sharp, hook-like claws, by 

 which bats attach themselves to branches or walls of caves or 

 buildings and hang head downwards. This is the common po- 

 sition. Measurements in bats are especially important. They 

 are usually measured as to head and body length, tail length, 

 and length of the forearm, from wrist to the elbow. 



