ORDER III. 

 THE CHEIROPTERA. 



THE Cheiroptera are mammals, with four distinct 

 nnguiculated limbs ; three kinds of teeth ; all the 

 phalanges much prolonged, and united by a mem- 

 brane to the hind legs, and generally beyond them, 

 forming true wings ; the thumbs free, not opposable, 

 and armed with a claw ; a kind of patella behind the 

 articulation of the arm, with the fore-arm annlogous 

 to the olecranon process, believed to be found in this 

 order only ; the posterior extremities are weak, fur- 

 nished with five equal toes and strong claws. Like 

 the later quadrumana, the Cheiroptera stand between 

 the frugivora and carnivora, feeding partly on fruit, 

 but not totally without animal food, and that chiefly 

 consisting of insects. They are all nocturnal or cre- 

 puscular. Hibernating in our latitudes, they hang 

 by the hind feet, when in a state of repose, from 

 branches of umbrageous trees, or more commonly 

 from the rocky sides of caverns, the interior of hol- 

 low trees, and in the roofs of barns and unfrequented 

 houses. The sense of hearing they have in an ex- 

 ceeding degree of acuteness, and, moreover, a per- 

 ception of the vicinity of strange bodies, which 



