THE MASTERY OF THE AIR 255 
hibernating animals, they have stored up as 
much nourishment as possible within their 
bodies before laying themselves up for the 
winter, and now they hang by their toes with 
their heads downwards and their wings 
wrapped about them, sleeping comfortably, 
though not very profoundly, for a mild spell 
will wake them up, until spring comes round 
again. Quaint creatures that hang them- 
selves up by their toes and wrap themselves 
up in their arms! 
The young ones, usually only one at a time, 
are born in May, and by July they are able 
to fly with an uncertain fluttering movement 
that makes them look like big moths in the 
twilight. 
The nature and abundance of their food 
makes it unnecessary for our British bats to 
fly very far, but some of the larger fruit-eating 
bats of warmer countries make enormous 
daily journeys in search of their favourite 
fruits. We are told that the “flying fox,” so 
called from the foxlike look of its long, red- 
furred snout, will fly many miles, and even 
cross an arm of the sea, when there are or- 
chards to be robbed. The young one attaches 
itself firmly to its mother’s breast, and so can 
