MOLES, SHREWS AND BATS 205 



most animals the bat acts as host to a few small 

 insect parasites, one of which is a relative of 

 the bedbug and somewhat resembles it. It is 

 possible that at rare intervals one may be 

 found carrying a true bedbug, which is not one 

 of its natural parasites, and might drop it in 

 some garret; but the danger from this is slight. 

 Bats are naturally cave-dwellers, and certain 

 caves favorably situated in wild regions have 

 been tenanted by them in enormous numbers 

 and for an untold length of time. In such 

 caverns, discovered in various parts of world, 

 thick deposits of guano have been found, and 

 have to some extent been utilized, being ex- 

 ceedingly strong in nitrogenous elements and 

 unimpaired, in their protected situation by the 

 washing away of the soluble elements in which 

 their virtue largely lies. 



