( 182 V 5 '' 



CHAPTER XXX. 

 THIS BAT 



" Now all is hush'd, save where the weak-eyed bat, 



With short shrill shrieks, flits by on leathern wing." COLLINS. 



As the last described class of animals seems to connect the 

 animal inhabitants of the earth with those of the seas, the tribe 

 which we are now going to present to view, appears to join, in a 

 similar manner, the former with the people of the air; so that 

 between quadrupeds, fishes, and volatiles, there is no distinct in- 

 terval, no chasm, in the long gradation of animal life. 



THE BAT 



Is distinguished from every other quadruped, by being furnish- 

 ed with wings ; for which reason it is, by the peasants, generally 

 ranked among volatiles, and some naturalists seem doubtful in 

 what class of animal existence its station ought to be assigned. 

 However, as it has all the characteristics of quadrupeds, Lin- 

 na3us refers it to that class, to which indeed it is allied by its ex- 

 ternal and internal structure, while its resemblance to the vola- 

 tile race consists solely in the faculty of flying. 



THE COMMON BAT 



Is well known, and frequently seen in England, as well as in 

 almost every part of Europe. It is somewhat less than a mouse, 

 and the extent of the wings is seven or eight inches. These are 

 only membranous webs, resembling thin leather, and extending 

 from the fore-feet to the tail : the hind-feet have each five toes, 

 armed with claws ; the body is covered with a very short and 

 soft fur ; the eyes are very small, and the ears like those of a 

 mouse, to which animal it bears no small resemblance in its gen- 

 eral aspect, but is somewhat darker in colour: it has four cut- 

 ting teeth in the upper, and six in the under jaw. 



About the end of summer, this creature retires to caves, old 

 buildings, and hollow trees, where it remains during the winter. 

 in a state of torpidity. Some of them cover themselves close 

 with their wings, and suspend themselves by their hind-feet ; and 

 others stick fast to old walls. 



Bats are capable of being tamed, to a certain degree. Mr. 

 White informs us, that he was once much amused with the sight 

 of a tame bat, which would take flies out of a person's hand, and 

 adroitly tear off the wings, which it invariably rejected. When 

 any thing was given it to eat, it brought its wings round before the 



