ON THE 



or among old ruins, so often attracts our atten- 

 tion, is about the size of a young mouse, to which, 

 with the exception of its wings, it bears no small 

 resemblance; and from this circumstance, and 

 from its mode of flying, it has been familiarly 

 called the Flitting Mouse. \t is about two inches 

 and a half in length, and measures nine inches 

 from wing to wing, when fully extended. The 

 colour of its fur, is that of a mouse tinged with 

 red its ears are very short and small, and have 

 each an inner valve the eyes are very minute, 

 and the mouth, nose, and head, generally re- 

 semble the mouse. It has four incisors, or cut- 

 ting teeth, separated in couples in the upper jaw ; 

 and six incisors, sharp-edged, and triflingly 

 notched, below ; with one canine tooth between 

 the molars and incisors, in each jaw. Its tail is 

 short, and forms a part of the wing when the 

 animal is flying, so that it is riot seen in that 

 attitude. Its hind legs which are 1 extremely 

 weak, are divided into five toes or fingers of 

 equal length, and all of them armed with nails 

 terminating in sharp claws, that assist its motion 

 when on the ground, and serve the purposes of 

 suspension, when it returns to its winter abode. 



But the most curious and most interesting part 

 of the animal's mechanism, is the instrument by 

 which it is enabled to fly ; and this leads me to 

 the consideration of the fore legs and feet, or 



