44 TRIBE OF BATS. 



9. The posterior or abdominal extremities preserve their ordi- 

 nary dimensions, and are very feeble : the hind feet are free and 

 provided with rive small toes of equal size, terminated with hooked 

 nails. 



10. The progression or walk of these animals is extremely 

 laborious, and is effected by a series of oblique tumbles, which 

 fatigues them very much ; they never have recourse to this mode 

 of progression, except when they are forced. When they wish, 

 to change place, they effect it by flying, and when they wish to 

 repose, they hook themselves to some projecting body from which 

 they can readily make their spring. 



11. Bats belong to those nocturnal animals that avoid the 

 light; during the day they sleep concealed in caverns, or 

 some other obscure place, and do not sally forth till the dusk of 

 the evening. In winter they fall into a lethargic sleep, which often 

 lasts during the cold season. Their eyes are exceedingly small, 

 but their ears are often very large, and the species of tact 

 which they exercise through the medium of the membranous sur- 

 face of their wings, is so exquisite, that they can direct their 

 course through all the nooks of their labyrinths, even after their 

 eyes have been removed, and simply by the different impressions 

 received from the air. 



12. The diet of these animals is various ; all do not feed on 

 animal substances, as might be believed, from the name of the 

 class to which they belong. Some are frugivorous, and others 

 insectivorous. 



13. The FRDGIVOROUS BATS, have molar teeth with flat crowns, 

 (Plate 2, fiy. 6.) and the second finger of the fore- paw armed 

 with a nail, like the thumb ; as yet they have been only found in 

 India, and are designated under the generic name of Roussettes. 

 One species of these Bats, (the black Roussette,) has wings which, 

 when expanded, extend about four feet, and, to protect the fruits 

 from its devastations, they are sometimes obliged to cover the 

 trees with nets. 



1 4. The INSECTIVOROUS BATS, on the contrary, have the crown of 

 the molar teeth studded with conical points which dovetail into 

 each other. (Plate 2. fiy. 5.) They also differ from the preced- 



9. What are the characters of the abdominal extremities of Bats ? 



10. What is the mode of progression of Bats? Jj 



11. Are Bats fond of light ? Are their eyes large? Have they very 

 email ears ? What are the peculiarities oi the surface of their wings ? 



12. What is the general diet of Bats ? 



13. What are the characters of the frueivorous Bats? In what part of the 

 world are these Bats found ? What is the Roussette ? 



14. What are the characters of the molar teeth of the Insectivorous Bats ? In 

 what respect do these Bats differ from others 7 







