146 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [April 



These are but a few of the diverse opinions which prevailed among 

 the naturalists of former times, among which the most ingeniously 

 quaint is that which places the bat and the ostrich in the same 

 order, because the bat has wings, and the ostrich has not."* 



Without reviewing the recorded errors of these observers, we 

 will be content to call the attention of the reader to the following 

 brief account of the structure of flying animals, so that the true 

 position of the bat among them may be definitely fixed. 



There are two distinct types of modifications which the verte- 

 brate skeleton has undergone in adapting the animal for flight, 

 both of which depend upon some peculiarity in the structure of 

 the anterior extremities ; and in order to obtain a correct opinion 

 of them, we propose to cast a glance at each in turn. 



The first act of the bat, after emerging in the evening from its 

 retreat, is to fly to the water. The following account, illustrating 

 the peculiarity, as well as showing the enormous numbers in which 

 these animals will live together, is of great interest. It is 

 from the pen of M. Figaniere, Minister to this country from 

 Portugal, in a letter addressed to Prof. Henry, Secretary of 

 the Smithsonian Institution : — 



" In the winter of 1859, having purchased the property known as 

 Seneca Point, on the margin of the Northeast River, near Char- 

 lestown, in Cecil County, Maryland, we took possession of it in 

 May of the next year. The dwelling is a brick structure covered 

 with slate in the form of an L two-storeyed, with garret, cellars, 

 and a stone laundry and milk-house attached. Having been un- 

 inhabited for several years, it exhibited the appearance, with the 

 exception of one or two rooms, of desolation and neglect, with 

 damp, black walls, all quite unexpected, as it had been but very 

 slightly examined, and was represented in good habitable condition, 

 merely requiring some few repairs and a little painting. 



" The boxes, bundles, and other packages of furniture which 

 had preceded us, lay scattered around and within the dwelling : 

 these, with the exception of some mattresses and bedding for im- 

 mediate use, were hastily arranged for unpacking and placing in 

 order at leisure. The weather, which was beautiful, balmy, and 

 warm, invited us toward evening to out-door enjoyment and rest 

 after a fatiguing day of travel and active labor ; but chairs, settees, 

 and benches were scarcely occupied by us on the piazza and lawn, 



*Wood, Nat. His., 1 (Mam.), 114. 



