CHAPTER XXV 



MISCELLANEOUS ANIMALS 



A NUMBER of animals, too important to omit from 

 nature-study courses but not fitting in with those already 

 treated, may be grouped together in this chapter. Each 

 may be taken up as occasion presents itself during the 

 year and season indicated in the grade plan. 



The Bat. — This is an interesting but misunderstood ani- 

 mal. Not infrequently one drops out of a ventilator into 

 a schoolroom or is brought in as a curiosity, too often dead, 

 by one of the pupils. Suppose we have a live bat, let us 

 see what it will eat. It may open its mouth and chatter 

 in a most threatening manner, but while we should not put 

 our fingers in the way of its sharp teeth, it can be handled 

 in a towel or handkerchief. It may be tamed, gener- 

 ally in a few minutes, by gentle treatment and feeding, so 

 that it will take insects and lick drops of water from the 

 fingers. It is only necessary, when it opens its mouth to 

 defend itself, to drop in a fly, meal worm, spider, or even 

 a bit of raw meat, possibly at first on the end of a tooth- 

 pick or hat pin. It will soon understand, and then feed- 

 ing tests may be made with whatever bugs or insects the 

 children can find.^ 



1 The writer has not been able to find any insects that a hungry bat 

 refuses to eat ; but we must be a Httle careful not to overfeed ; on one 

 occasion he fed a bat .243 flies, but, while it apparently ate the last one 

 with relish, it died a few minutes afterwards. 



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