Vi INTRODUCTION. 



ward motions. Thi.s aversion — so universally evinced toward 

 these little animals — is heightened by the a.ssociations of the 

 time and place of their daily app<'arance. Attendant, as they 

 are, upon the quiet hours of twilight, when the thickening 

 gloom is conducive to the development of superstitious feeling, 

 bats have always been associated with ideas of the horrible and 

 the unknown. In olden times, when the imagination of the people 

 exceeded the accuracy of their observations, it was one of the 

 numerous monsters inhabiting their caverns and forests. It has 

 done service in many a legend ; its bite was fatal ; it was the 

 emblem of haunted houses ; its wings bore up the dragon slain 

 by St. George. 



It is easy to trace from this early impression the permanent 

 ])Osition that the bat, as an emblem of the repulsive, held in 

 letters and the arts. It is mentioned in the Book of Leviticus 

 as one of the unclean things. Its image is rudely carved upon 

 the tombs of the ancient Egyptians. The Greeks consecrated 

 it to Proserpine. It is part of the infernal potion of the witches 

 in Macbeth, while Ariel employs it in his erratic flights. In 

 art, its wings have entered largely into the creation of those 

 composite horrors — evil spirits, nor have modern artists escaped 

 from the absurdity of encumbering the Satan of Holy Writ with 

 like appendages.' Of this association with the monstrous the in- 

 telligent observer ceases to take note when the finer beauties of 

 structure develop themselves under his gaze. Fpon acquaintance 

 be learns, perhaps with surprise, that, in anatomical and physio- 

 logical peculiarities, and zoological position, the bat is a subject 

 for study worthy of the attention of the most contemplative. In- 

 deed, no order of animals is more interesting, and none has received 

 greater attention from the hands of savans. 



The early pioneers of natural history were far astray in thoir 

 endeavors to correctly define the nature and position of the bat. 



" Some authors place bats among the birds, because they are 

 able to fly through the air ; while others assign them a position 



' To this fancy of the ancients of placing the wings of a bat upon 

 demons is happily opposed the sweet conceit of poets in adorning the 

 figures of angels and chernbina with the wings of birds. The wing of a 

 bat is sombre and angular — that of a bird is of delicate hues and replete 

 with curves. It is therefore poetic justice to have the one become an 

 emblem of the infernal as the other is an expression of the lieavenly form. 



