326 THE: ZOOLOGIST. 
all the sinuosities of facial and nasal flaps, &c., subserve a, 
sensory purpose necessary to the well-being of these nocturnal 
creatures par excellence. Though often transparent, flesh-like, 
and seemingly bare, yet everywhere, and scattered on both 
sides, are extremely slender, delicate hairs, the, bulbs of which 
widen out and enclose minute tactile organs (Vastkorperchen of 
Dr. Schébl). Added to these, fine nerve-threads are freely 
distributed; and, as if further to enhance the extreme sen- 
sibility of the part, a perfect network of contractile capillary 
blood- vessels. 
Hence, as in the Amoeba and Jelly-fish, every particle of 
the surface is a tactile apparatus with a sensitiveness possibly. 
unrivalled in the animal kingdom. 
For a long time it was inexplicable how Bats flew in the 
dark with unerring certainty. The remarkable experiments of 
the earnest and shrewd Abbé Spallanzani showed that, after 
eyes, ears, and nose were destroyed or obliterated, so far as 
sensation or use was ee cca the mutilated creatures avoided 
every minute obstacle placed in the way; they even threaded 
dark caverns, and found out nooks and crevices in a most. 
extraordinary manner. ‘That the result of these experiments 
was not mere accident or good luck on the part of the Bats has 
been shown by Jurine and Schébl, who repeated them. More- 
over, the careful microscopic researches of the latter have 
revealed, as above stated, structural conditions not previously. 
suspected. 
One can no longer wonder, then, how important sha effica- 
cious to crepuscular and night-roaming animals are long vibrisse, | 
erectile spines, filaments, and such-like organs, as well as the 
tactile delicacy of palm, pads, &c.; in fact, impressions are by. 
these means conveyed, which to diurnal animals are unknown 
and unrequired. 
Though not absolutely rivalling the Bats in constancy of 
nocturnal habit, or endowed with the sense of touch in its broadest 
aspect, still the Lemwroidea, or Half-Apes, as some naturalists 
designate them, are marvellously interesting, from their adaptive 
structure to nocturnal habit. Some are cat- or fox-like in build 
or expression, others puggish; all are quadrumanous, with big 
opposable thumbs and great toes; a few possess abnormally, 
developed fingers; none are so intelligent and mischievous as. 
