, CHEIROPTERA. 553 



for tearing np the earth, and casting it backwards, as the creature 

 burrows through the soil, an operation in which it is assisted by its 

 long pointed head and moveable snout. The hinder legs are very 

 feeble, and the animal's movements upon the ground are as imbecile 

 as they are efficient underneath it. Its hearing is very acute, but the 

 eyes are so small, and so covered by the skin, that their very exist- 

 ence might be denied by a superficial observer. The fur of the 

 Mole is very peculiar ; the hairs, instead of projecting from the skin 

 obliquely backwards, as in most animals, grow perpendicularly 

 from the surface, so that, like the pile of velvet, they will lie with 

 equal smoothness in any direction, thereby enabling the animal to 

 retreat with facility through the narrow passages of its subterranean 

 burrows. 



ORDER VIII. BATS. 

 CHEIROPTERA.* 



The Mammiferous destroyers of insects are by 

 no means restricted to the surface of the ground, or 

 limited by their structure to the pursuit of a few 

 beetles, or grovelling larvae. Many, furnished with 

 wings of strange conformation, are permitted to wage 

 war against them even in their own element, rivalling 

 the very Swallows in their power of flight. 



The Bats have their arms, fore-arms, and fingers 

 extremely elongated, and connected together by a 

 delicate fold of skin spread over them, much in the 

 same way that the silk of an umbrella is stretched 

 upon its frame, so that they form real wings, as 

 broadly expanded as those of birds. Accordingly, 

 these creatures fly to a considerable height with 

 great rapidity, and with apparent ease, wheeling in 

 every direction in search of their insect prey, and 

 performing the most abrupt evolutions to secure it. 

 The muscles that wield their wings are possessed of 

 strength proportionate to the movements they have 

 to execute, and in the middle of the breast-bone 

 there is a ridge or keel like that of birds, so as 

 to form a larger surface for their attachment. The 

 thumb is short, and armed with a hooked nail, 



* x*' L P- cheir. the liand : irrepoi'. pteron. a iving liand-winged. 



2 B' 



