78 THE STUDY OF ANIMAL LIFE 



tribution, to the section set out at the heading of 

 this chapter. 



IV. ANIMAL LOCOMOTION 



It will be apparent to those who have followed 

 these essays thus far that it is my purpose to con- 

 centrate chief attention upon those kinds of 

 animals that inhabit our own country, but it is 

 important to emphasise this point for fear the 

 matter is overlooked. It would be a compara- 

 tively easy task to almost indefinitely enlarge the 

 various sections if we were to include the forms of 

 animal life found outside our own country, and as 

 we have many interesting examples close at home, 

 that, at any rate, is not our intention. 



We may well devote this portion of our journey 

 to the important subject of animal locomotion, or 

 the moving powers of animals, and it is only as a 

 result of carefully sitting down and considering 

 these in some detail that any accurate conception 

 can be gained concerning their great variation. 



Let us briefly run through the chief groups of 

 animals in somewhat like scientific sequence. 

 The Bats, as we have already learned, occupy 

 pride of place among British animals, and of their 

 locomotive powers little need be said. Their 

 remarkable powers of endurance and speed upon 

 the wing are well known, as also their keen sense 



