36 A necdotal Natural History. 



the bat was thus made aware of the neighbourhood 

 of an obstacle, and enabled to avoid it accordingly. 



The fur of the bat is of a very soft and silky 

 nature, and the hair is a most beautiful object under 

 the microscope. It is densely clothed with scales 

 somewhat resembling those of a butterfly's wing, 

 which in some species are arranged in circles round 

 the hair, a short distance from each other. The whole 

 object bears a wonderfully strong resemblance to the 

 well-known mare's-tail plant. 



Easy and graceful as are the movements of the bat 

 whilst disporting itself in the air, it is a very different 

 creature when attempting to walk upon a level 

 surface. Its mode of progression can at best only be 

 described as an awkward waddle, the creature hitch- 

 ing itself along by means of the claw at the extremity 

 of one of the wings, giving a kind of tumble forwards, 

 at the same time advancing the corresponding foot ; 

 the same process is then repeated with the other 

 wing. 



In the illustration representing the bats in a cave, 

 the extraordinary attitude assumed in walking is well 

 shown. The long finger-joints are pressed together, 

 their tips projecting on either side of the back. The 

 weight of the body rests on the wrist, and the creature 

 pulls itself forwards by hitching the claw of the thumb 

 upon any roughness of the surface on which it walks. 



Bats are remarkably averse to taking to the wing 

 from a level surface, and always prefer to climb to 

 some little height from which they can throw them- 

 selves into the air. This is evidently the reason for 

 the strange and apparently uncomfortable attitude 

 adopted when at rest, the animal being then in the 

 most convenient position for launching itself into the 

 air should there be any signs of danger. 



It has been sometimes said that the bat is unable 



