BATS. 45 



is enabled to leap through very great distances, and to pass from one 

 bough to another with ease. This membrane is a prolongation of the 

 natural skin, and is covered with hair on the upper side as thickly as 

 any part of the body, but beneath it is almost naked. When the crea- 

 ture desires to make one of its long sweeping leaps, it spreads its limbs 

 as widely as possible, and thus converts itself into a kind of living kite, 

 as is shown in the figure. By thus presenting a large surface to the air, 

 it can be supported in its passage between the branches, and is said to 

 vary its course slightly by the movement of its arms. It is said that 

 the Colugo will thus pass over nearly a hundred yards. 



Among other bat-like habits, the Colugo is accustomed to suspend it- 

 self by its hinder paws from the branch of a tree, and in this pendent 

 attitude it sleeps. Its slumbers are mostly diurnal, for the Colugo is a 

 night-loving animal, and is seldom seen in motion until the shades of 

 evening draw on. But on the approach of night, the Colugo awakes 

 from its drowsiness, and, unhooking its claws from the branch on 

 which it has hung suspended during the hours of daylight, sets off on 

 its travels in search of food. 



It is found in many of the islands that belong to the Indian Arch- 

 ipelago, and is tolerably common. 



The color of the fur is very uncertain, even in the same species, some 

 specimens being of a light brown, others of a gray tint, more or less 

 deep ; while many individuals have their fur diversified with irreg- 

 ular marblings or stripes, or spots of different shades and tints. 



The Colugo is by no means a small animal, as, when it is full grown, 

 it equals a large cat in size. 



CHEIROPTERA, OR WING-HANDED ANIMALS, 

 POPULARLY CALLED BATS. 



In general form the Bats are clearly separated from any other group 

 of animals, and by most evident modifications of structure can be recog- 

 nized by the most cursory glance. 



The first peculiarity in the Bat form which strikes the eye is the*wide 

 and delicate membrane which stretches round the body, and which is 

 used in the place of the wings with which birds are furnished. 



In order to support this beautiful membrane, to extend it to its requi- 

 site width, and to strike the air with it for the purposes of flight, the 

 bones of the fore-part of the body, and especially those of the arms and 

 hands, undergo a singular modification. 



The finger-bones are strangely disproportioned to the remainder of 

 the body, the middle finger being considerably longer than the head 

 and body together. The thumb is very much shorter than any of the 

 fingers, and furnished with a sharp and curved claw. By means of this 



