398 FOUR-FOOTED AMERICANS 



ing, cavern, or abandoned mine shaft, far enough from 

 the air not to freeze, and hanging themselves up by the 

 hind feet, fall into such a deep sleep that you cannot 

 detect the faintest breath." 



" What a dreadfully cold way to sleep," said Dodo, 

 shivering at the thought. "Hanging up so that the 

 wind can blow right through them and nothing to keep 

 their feet warm. Do they always sleep that way in 

 summer, Uncle Roy ? " 



" Usually when found in the daytime hidden in out- 

 buildings or under large leaves they are hanging in that 

 way, and their young are often found clinging to them 

 and nursing in this position." 



''Do they build nests?" asked Nat. 



''No, they either suspend themselves Avherever they 

 happen to be, or crawl under the roofs of old buildings, 

 which they sometimes occupy in great parties. You see 

 they hang up to go to sleep as naturally as we lie down." 



"Can they walk at all, or do they always fly?" 

 asked Dodo. 



" They can walk along slowly and with a good deal 

 of trouble by clinging with their hooked thumbs, their 

 wings being folded and sticking up like the hind legs 

 of a grasshopper. 



" The House Bat (called the Snouty Bat by the Wise 

 Men, because of its curious nose) is a small light- 

 brown species common in the South, which makes 

 attics and roofs its favorite resting-places. It seems 

 to use its feet more than any otlier species and may 

 be heard sliuffling about after dark, making the same 

 noise that you would imagine might come from a 

 party of mice on crutclies. 



