THE MASTERY OF THE AIR 255 



hibernating animals, they have stored up as 

 much nourishment as possible within their 

 bodies before laying themselves up for the 

 winter, and now they hang by their toes with 

 their heads downwards and their wings 

 wrapped about them, sleeping comfortably, 

 though not very profoundly, for a mild spell 

 will wake them up, until spring comes round 

 again. Quaint creatures that hang them- 

 selves up by their toes and wrap themselves 

 up in their arms! 



The young ones, usually only one at a time, 

 are born in May, and by July they are able 

 to fly with an uncertain fluttering movement 

 that makes them look like big moths in the 

 twilight. 



The nature and abundance of their food 

 makes it unnecessary for our British bats to 

 fly very far, but some of the larger fruit-eating 

 bats of warmer countries make enormous 

 daily journeys in search of their favourite 

 fruits. We are told that the "flying fox," so 

 called from the foxlike look of its long, red- 

 furred snout, will fly many miles, and even 

 cross an arm of the sea, when there are or- 

 chards to be robbed. The young one attaches 

 itself firmly to its mother's breast, and so can 



