THE BAT. 



PLATE XXXV. THE BAT. 



THE Bat in scarce any particular resembles the bird, 

 except in its power of sustaining itself in the air. It brings 

 forth its young alive ; it suckles them ; its mouth is fur- 

 nished with teeth ; its lungs are formed like those of quad- 

 rupeds; its intestines, and its skeleton, have a complete 

 resemblance, and even are, in some measure, seen to re- 

 semble those of mankind. 



The bat most common in England, is about the size of a 

 mouse ; or nearly two inches and a half long. The mem- 

 branes thit are usually called wings, are, properly speak- 

 ing, an extension of the skin all round the body, except the 

 head, which, when the animal flies, is kept stretched on 

 every side, by the four interior toes of the fore feet, which 

 are enormously long, and serve like masts that keep the 

 canvass of a sail spread, and regulate its motions. The 

 first toe is quite loose, and serves as a heel when the bat. 

 walks, or as a hook, when it would adhere to any thing. 

 The hind feet are disengaged from the surrounding skin, 

 and divided into five toes, somewhat resembling those of 

 a mouse. The skin by which it flies is of a dusky color. 

 The body is covered with a short fur, of a mouse color, 

 tinged with red. The eyes are very small ; the ears like 

 those of a mouse. 



This species of the bat is very common in England. It 

 makes its first appearance early in summer, and begins its 

 flight in the dusk of the evening. It principally frequents 

 the sides of woods, glades, and shady walks ; and is fre- 

 quently observed to skim along the surface of pieces of 

 water. It pursues gnats, moths, and nocturnal insects of 



