512 TROPICAL BATS 



projecting it forward by a sudden jerk of its long flexible neck. 

 By means of this wonderful organisation, the nimble parasite 

 feels completely at home in the furry coat which has been 

 assigned to it as a pasture ground, and whisks along as easily 

 through the hairy thicket as the monkey through the bush-ropes 

 of the forest. 



Though incapable of a prolonged flight like the bats, several 

 other tropical quadrupeds have been provided with extensions of 

 the skin, which give them the power of supporting themselves 

 for some time in the air, and of making prodigious leaps. Thus, 

 by means of an expansile furry membrane reaching from the 

 fore-feet to the hind, the Flying Squirrels (Pteromys) bound, 

 or rather swiftly sail, to the distance of twenty fathoms or 

 more, and thus pass from one tree to another, always 

 directing their flight obliquely downwards. They very rarely 

 descend to the ground, and when taken or placed on it, 

 run or spring somewhat awkwardly with their tail elevated, 

 beginning to climb with great activity as soon as they reach 

 a tree. 



The Graleopitheci are in like manner enabled t^ take long 

 sweeping leaps from tree to tree, by means of an extension of 

 their skin between the anterior and posterior limbs on each side, 

 and between the posterior limbs, including also the tail. These 



extraordinary animals are natives of the 

 islands of th e Indian archipelago. They 

 inhabit lofty trees in dark woods, to 

 which they cling with all four extremi- 

 ties. During the day time, they sus- 

 pend themselves like bats from the 

 branches, with their heads downwards, 

 but at night they rouse themselves 



Galeopithecus volans. j i . • t r r :i 



and make an active search tor food, 

 which consists of fruits, insects, eggs, and birds. They are 

 inoffensive, but on attempting to seize them, they inflict a 

 sharp scratch with their trenchant nails. 



The Anomaluri of the west coast of Africa, which have only 

 been known to the world since 1842, and possess a most re- 

 markable tail, covered on the lower surface of its base with 

 imbricated horny scales, resemble the galeopitheci by the wing- 



