ORDER OF BATS 



iChiroptera) 



NE of the strangest of all animals is the Bat. Partaking in its powers cf 

 flight of some of the habits of the birds, it is nevertheless a true mammal. 

 It cannot even be regarded as a connecting link between the two kingdoms. 

 Bats occupy an order by themselves, which is as sharply defined as 

 could be devised. They do not encroach upon any other order; neither do 

 other mammals show traits belonging to the Chiroptera. The members of 

 this ordsr are true mammals with the fore limbs modified for flight. The 

 bones of the arms and fingers are enormously elongated and drawn out ; across 

 this slender framework extends the flying membrane, a thin fold of skin, which 

 reaches to the sides of the Bat; and from the fingers to the hind limbs on 

 the ankle joint a cartilaginous process, the calcar, helps to support another 

 portion of the flight membrane, which extends from ankle to ankle and envelops more or 

 less of the tail. Peculiar modifications to further the power of flight are the rudimentan,- 

 ulna, the long curved radius, the short thumb bearing a claw and long fingers with no claws, 

 and the outwardly-directed knee joint. Other structures characteristic of Bats are the 

 specialized ears with the peculiar upstanding process, the tragus, the thoracic mamman.- 

 glands, and often accessory structures upon the nose and lips. 



Bats are night-loving animals. Their flight is erratic and often swift despite the fact 

 that their eyes are quite small. They are widely distributed over America, as well as over 

 other countries, but, because of their secluded habits and love of darkness, few persons know- 

 much about them. 



The Order is divided into two sub-orders — the Megachiroptcra, or Fruit-eating Bats 

 found only in the Old World; and the Microchiroptera, the Insect-eating Bats, of smaller 

 size, which are found in nearly every land. 



Photograph by Dr. R. W. Shufeldt 



BROWN BAT WALKING 



A photograph from life showing the animal's peculiar manner of walking forward on a 



flat surface 



[313I 



