FLYING MAMMALS 



Bats are remarkable creatures for the reason that they 

 are the only mammal class of animals which possess 

 wings and can fly. There are other animals, such as 

 the Flying Squirrels and Phalangers, that have a 

 membrane attached to the fore and hind legs, as 

 well as the sides of the body. By stiffening the legs 

 and holding them straight out, these animals are 

 able to sail through the air to a limited distance, but 

 only at an angle in a downward direction, such as 

 from the top of a high tree to the branch of a lower 

 one. However, this cannot be called flying. The 

 bat, on the contrary, can fly as efficiently as a bird. 



The ancestors of the bat, no doubt, developed 

 membraneous attachments similar to those of the 

 Flying Squirrels, and in the process of time this 

 arrangement became more specialised. The front 

 leg bones increased in length, and the membrane 

 eventually enveloped the spaces between the long 

 fingers ; and, instead of only being able to fly in a 

 sloping direction downwards towards the earth, from 

 a high tree, or crag, the bat was enabled to propel 

 itself at will through the air in all directions. On 

 examination the wings will be seen to be composed 



VOL. I 8i 6 



