An Animal Oddity 



Howard C. Brown 

 Pres. Califor Naturalist Club, Charles City, Iowa 



There are a great many queer combinations among animals. 

 Indeed it seems as though we have only to suggest some visionary 

 form, and we find it represented by some living creature. No, we 

 need not even go back to past ages. We have them in the modern 

 age, — the tapir, the elephant, the giraffe, the quagga, etc. But by 

 means of zoological parks, and circuses these creatures have been 

 displayed to many, and their habits learned. This is all necessary, 

 but I fear that in the study of these animals we have quite for- 

 gotten and neglected the American animals some of which may be 

 just as odd, and whose habits may even prove more interesting, 

 because they are American. 



Did you ever stop to think of the possibilities of an American 

 zoo? I have read of an insect zoo, but did you ever hear of a zoo 

 of mice, rats, bats, lizards, etc. ? Strange as it may seem a great 

 many people neglect the members of the animal kingdom, but 

 above all, it seems to me that bats are some of the least understood 

 animals of America. And by least understood I mean that fewer 

 people know their habits, species, and food than those of any other 

 animal. Now of course, when we consider the many microscopic 

 animals, this is not true; but let us pass by them, and get to the 

 animals according to popular belief in a truer sense. 



I heard of a gentlemen who once had a bat as a pet, and I heard 

 of some of the things he discovered concerning it. Sometime ago, 

 however, I was presented with a live bat, given me for a specimen. 

 He was a beautiful little fellow, with a grey back, and chattering 

 pearly teeth; and I fear, thought this world's hands were too rough 

 for so delicate a creature. 



I regarded this as a rare opportunity, and determined to keep 

 my bat alive to note his habits. The next day I transferred him 

 into a better home and placing a fly on the end of a stick, I held it 

 toward him. He chattered, and shook his head, giving me a warn- 

 ing by his terrible threats. And why shouldn't he ? For, man who 

 had taken his freedom, was his greatest enemy. He shook and 

 quivered when he heard a human voice. Finally after several 

 trials he grabbed the fly from the stick, and in an up and down 

 motion of his head, swallowed it. 



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