THE BAT. 101 



If a man undertakes to follow it on foot, he soon 

 finds himself emu-lating at a rapid rate. 



It is a mild, inoffensive bird, yet, when attacked, it 

 kicks with such force as to kill a dog, or seriously 

 injure a man ; that is very like a mule. 



The bird is rapidly disappearing. To obtain their 

 eggs, which are in considerable demand in Melbourne, 

 hunters need to go back far into the interior. 



It will ultimately disappear from the Australian 

 continent. 



THE BAT. 



There are no less than twenty-five different kinds 

 of bats. Chief among these is the flying fox. This 

 animal compares for size with the black squirrel of 

 Canada. The color of its fur is about that of the red 

 fox. It has also the fox's head and the same sly, cun- 

 ning expression. 



Its natural position when at rest is head down- 

 wards, with its wings wrapped about it like a lady's 

 gossamer, and the two hooks or claws at the lower 

 extremity of the wings hooked over a small limb. 



It may rain a week, it is all the same to him. With 

 his chin tucked close down upon his breast, every part 

 of his body is protected from the weather, and so, if it is 

 inclined to rain, why, he just hangs on, and " lets it 

 rain." 



