42 EYES OF BATS. 



that these creatures owed the facility of flying through 

 intricate places in the dark to the sense of hearing, 

 rather than of sight. Their ears were, therefore, 

 tied up, and then the poor bats could 110 longer find 

 their way. They hecame sorrowful, and refused 

 every kind of food, remaining quiet through the 

 day, and if set at liberty for a few minutes, with 

 their eyes uncovered, they merely crawled into some 

 dark corner or crevice. But at sunset, the scene 

 was changed : each one then endeavoured with loud 

 chirpings, to scratch his way through the box; and 

 when taken out, such as had their ears and eyes 

 covered, knew not where to fly, or what to do, while 

 those who were merely blinded flew about, or ran 

 to a convenient place for taking wing. Anatomists 

 relate that the faculty thus given of flying safely in 

 the dark, even when blindfolded, is occasioned by 

 the incredible number of nerves that expand on the 

 upper jaws, the muzzle, and the organs of hearing. 



The hook, too, which is observed at the angle of 

 the wing in this interesting quadruped, how curious 

 it is! Formed exactly like a claw, it enables the 

 creature safely to attach herself to crevices or join- 

 ings in stones or timber. Without this aid, she 

 could not rise from off the ground, for her legs and 

 feet are not adapted to the purpose, but with it she 

 readily runs up a wall, or tree, and then takes 

 flight. 



This animal affords, therefore, a striking instance 

 of design in its formation, and of adaptation to sur- 

 rounding objects and circumstances ; the tree or the 

 rock to which she clings, and the darkness through 

 which she wings her dusky flight. Here, as in all the 



