34; OF BATS IN GENERAL. 



selves from the chilling effects of the frost. Dur- 

 ing their continuance in this state of torpor, the 

 animal functions are so far suspended as scarcely to 

 be perceptible. The action of the heart and arte- 

 ries become exceedingly languid; and respiration 

 is scarcely distinguishable. Digestion is altogether 

 at a stand; and none of the functions seem to be 

 going on, except a very slow degree of nutrition, 

 and an interchange of old for new matter, in the 

 depository cells of the body. This last circumstance 

 is proved by the aniihals* entering into the torpid 

 state very fat, and reviving excessively emaciated; 

 and from this it appears that the oil, in the fatty 

 follicles of the cellular membrane/ is gradually 

 taken up by the absorbent vessels, into the languid 

 circulation, to supply the proportionally gradual 

 waste, occasioned by the more than half suspended 

 action of the emunctories*. 



Since, in the Bats, the fingers are not capable bf 

 grasping solid bodies, from their being inclosed 

 between two fine membranes, these animals do not 

 possess, in any high degree, that sense of touch 

 which serves to ascertain the forms of bodies. The 

 extensive surface, however, which the membranes 

 present to the air, fit them for receiving such deli- 

 cate impressions of resistance, motion, and tempe- 

 rature, that some authors haVe been induced to 

 ascribe to these creatures an additional sense. In a 



* Kerr's Animal Kingdom, i. p. 94. 



series 



