SOME COMMON MAMMALS. 



137 



There are five toes in the hind foot ; they are all of the 

 same length, and have sharp claws, bent like 

 hooks. The bat suspends itself by these 

 when it goes to sleep or hibernates (Figs. 

 44, 45). 



These things should all be pointed out 

 to the pupils. They should draw a wing 

 and a hind foot. 



The voice of this bat has an interesting 

 peculiarity. It is singularly high pitched, 

 so that it is audible only to certain indi- 

 viduals. 



The structure of the Mole and the Bat 

 illustrate well the principle of adaptations. 

 They are modifications towards opposite ex- 

 tremes in relation to specialised modes of life of the 

 ordinary terrestrial mammalian type. 



STOATS AND WEASELS. 



Of the British wild beasts, applying the term in the 

 restricted sense to the terrestrial Carnivora only, Stoats 

 and Weasels are probably the best known. This is because 

 they are the commonest. Specimens are not difficult to 

 procure ; they may be obtained from keepers, who mostly 

 regard it as their business to keep the numbers down. 

 Except that the Weasel is absent from Ireland, they occur 

 throughout the British Isles. 



We shall here write down some notes which may be 

 utilised as lesson points. 



We have not many wild animals in our islands. Let us 

 name them. After the Stoat and Weasel, we may think of 

 the Pole Cat and Pine Marten. These may be but names 

 to most of the pupils, they are so rare. The Badger is 

 more familiar, but probably only by hearsay. The Otter 

 is commoner ; it is of course semi-aquatic. The Fox will 

 be well known, but he too would undoubtedly be scarce 

 were he not preserve^ for sporting purposes. We finish 



