OEDEE OF CHEIEOPTEEA. 



523 



that of the high-soaring Birds, which, full of grace ai^^th studded 

 aloft, are compelled to resort to the most painful efforts rfars with 

 again from low levels. me of 



The Cheiroptera are essentially nocturnal. Their eyes, althougls, 

 small, are organised for seeing, not in complete darkness, hut in 

 the gloaming, or in the feeble light of the moon and stars. They 

 retire during day to caverns, abandoned quarries, lofts, church 

 spires, old ruins, or the trunks of trees, where they remain until 



Fig. 



1. - Kousseltes in a state of rest. 



evening. From the walls of these sombre dwellings they suspend 

 themselves head downwards by their hind feet, the strong curved 

 claws of which are exactly suited for this purpose. 



They frequently hang to each other, forming such curious, com- 

 pact masses that no one who has not seen them can have any idea of 

 their grotesqueness. In certain subterranean caverns the number 

 of Bats is so considerable that the roof cannot be seen for them. 



If we except vision and taste, which do not appear to be very 



