FLIGHT OF MAMMALS 95 



more vulgar brethren have retired to rest, while 

 the Painted Butterfly, the " fervent Bees," and 

 the quivering nations of Flies which sport — 



Thick in yon stream of light, a thousand ways, 

 Upward and downward, thwarting and convolved, 



love to bask in the sun's brightest rays, and search 

 for their food amidst its noontide fervour. 



Flight of Mammals. — We have already men- 

 tioned in passing the flight of our only British 

 Mammal which can fly, i.e., the Bat, but a few 

 further notes upon the flight of Mammals, and 

 also respecting Flying-fish, may be given. Such 

 notes must necessarily be brief, or our intended 

 survey will be far from complete when we reach 

 aur allotted destination, and we therefore proceed. 



The Bats, of which there are many kinds, are 

 best known among Mammal fliers; the flight of 

 our Common Bat may perhaps be compared to a 

 combination between that of the Swallow and 

 Butterfly. During our twilight walks, when there 

 is a hush among our feathered friends, and the 

 curtain of night is being drawn around the hills 

 and woods, then the Bat is seen flashing and 

 flickering along, mostly at a height of twelve or 

 fourteen feet. It is perfectly noiseless, except on 

 dark nights, when it has a habit of accompanying 

 any one walking, and may be heard at intervals 



