OP BATS IN GENERAL. 37 



keeping out extraneous substances during sleep, 

 have the appearance of being double. 



The whole number of Bats hitherto described, is 

 twenty-five. Of these, five only have been found 

 in the British dominions. 



Mankind, from the earliest ages of the world, 

 have indulged an aversion, not altogether war- 

 rantable, towards these animals. From their uni- 

 formly dark colour, and very singular appearance, 

 connected with the circumstance of their haunting 

 the most unfrequented buildings, and flying abroad 

 only during the evening and night, they have been 

 usually grouped in the same description with 

 ghosts and hobgoblins. Fear is the parent of super- 

 stition, and operates with extensive influence when 

 roused by objects which come abroad only in the 

 midst of solitude and obscurity. Hence, likewise, 

 the Bats, with several of the night-flying birds, 

 have been considered as animals of evil omen. In 

 the Fairie Queene we read of 



The ill facte owl, deathe's dreadful messenger; 

 The hoarse night raven, trompe of doleful dreere; 

 The leather-winged Bat, daye's enemie; 

 The rueful strick, still waiting on the beere; 

 The whistler shrill, that whoso hearcs doth die. 



Homer, in the true spirit of poetry, in which 

 images drawn from superstitious terrors are often 

 rendered extremely beautiful, has adopted these 



D 3 animals 



