78 STRUCTURE OF THE BAT. 



which were in the act of sucking when they were 

 alarmed, clung to their mothers' breasts without let- 

 ting go their hold.* The windows being open, many- 

 escaped ; but a great number were buffeted to death 

 by the servants, who were collected together by the 

 cries of astonishment uttered by the carpenter, who 

 was really terrified at such an unusual concourse of 

 living creatures, that proceeded, as if by enchantment, 

 from the wall. 



Mr. Palmer brought one of those that had been 

 killed, in his pocket, that we might examine the pecu- 

 liarities of its structure ; especially its wings, which 

 consist of an extremely thin, light, delicate mem- 

 brane, that extends from one shoulder entirely round 

 the body to the other, and connects the fore and hind 

 legs together. From the delicacy of its texture, and 

 its flexibility^, the creature can fold this membrane 

 into a very small compass when it inclines to rest; 

 but when its wants impel it to take flight, it has, 

 likewise, the power of stretching it out like a sail, to 

 a considerable extent. From the skeleton of this wing, 

 when divested of its covering, it plainly appeared that 

 the principal bones resemble so many very long fingers ; 

 the fifth, which is much shorter than the rest, may 



* I do not vouch that this was observed amongst the bats 

 discovered at Tottenham ; but Mr. Bingley mentions it as a habit 

 of the race. — See British Quadrupeds, pp. 33, 48. 



