64 



OEDEKS OP MAMMALS— BATS 



membrane between the legs, either rising from 

 its upper surface, or projecting beyond its end. 

 The muzzle is rather blunt, and the nostrils 

 open beyond the upper lip. 



The Bonneted Bat,' of California and Mexico, 

 is one of the largest of our species of free-tailed 

 bats. Above the shoulders it looks like a rat 

 wearing a poke bonnet. Its head-and-body 

 length is 2| inches, tail 1^, total length of ear, 

 If inches. One-half the tail is free. 



The Naked Bat,^ of Borneo, Java and Suma- 

 tra, is one of the most remarkable species of the 

 entire Order of Bats, and in some respects is the 

 widest departure from the typical bat. In the 

 interior mountains of Sarawak, Borneo, I once 

 secured ten fine specimens, and to me they are 

 as wonderful to-day as when handled for the first 

 time. 



As its name implies, this bat is practically 

 destitute of hair, the only hair noticeable be- 

 ing a few stiff, black bristles on the neck, and 

 a little rpicroscopic fuzz on the breast and hind- 

 quarters. The skin is thick and leathery, lying 

 in numerous creases and folds, and on the living 

 animal it is very elastic. There is no nose-leaf, 

 and the Ups are very thick and fleshy. The tail 

 is free of parachute membrane for two-thirds of 

 its length, and is quite like the tail of a mole. 

 On the joint at the base of the thumb there is a 

 large, callous tubercle, which indicates that this 

 bat is much given to crawling about on "all 

 fours,'' on rocks and tree-trunks. 



Around the neck, the skin lies in two thick 

 folds, and in these, directly under the chin, is 

 situated a deep gland or sac which secretes a 

 gummy substance with an odor both strong and 

 disagreeable. Clearly, like the scent-gland of 

 the skunk, it is for defence. 



The most wonderful feature of the Naked Bat 

 is yet to be noticed. On seeing this species 

 for the first time, one's first thought is, how 

 do the young bats cling to the parents during 

 flight? 



Nature, ever wise and provident, has answered 

 this question by placing under each arm of this 

 bat a deep, wide pocket of rubber-like skin, 

 in which the young are carried until they are 

 able to fly! The mouth of this pocket is on a 

 'ine between the elbow and the knee, and it 



^ Pro'mops caUi-for'ni-cus. 

 ' Chei-ro-me'les tor-qua'tus. 



extends upward and backward, over the en- 

 tire shoulder, quite to the back-bone, where the 

 two sacs are separated by a thin partition of 

 skin. The pouch is 1| inches deep, and in its 

 lower portion, against the ribs, is located the 

 mammary gland. On the whole, this is the 

 most wonderful infant-pouch possessed by any 

 living creature, not even excepting that of the 

 marsupials, which is much more simple. 



My largest specimen of this bat had a head- 

 and-body length of 5J inches, tail 2 inches long, 

 and a wing expanse of 22 inches. In the skin 

 were many curious folds. The face of the 

 Naked Bat is coarse and ugly, and the body is 

 quite devoid of grace and beauty; but ere one 

 has time to scoff at such homeliness, the creature 

 seems to say, — "Study me; for I am fearfully 

 and wonderfully made!" 



This bat lives upon fruit and vegetation, and 

 nests in hollow trees, rock crevices, or in holes 

 in the earth. The illustration on page 59 was 

 drawn from one of my Bornean specimens. 



THE FAMILY OF COMMON BATS. 



Vespertilionidae. 



These are the bats that are most widely known, 

 and also the most numerous. Dr. E. L. Troues- 

 sart recognizes more than 200 species. They 

 range over all portions of the world that are 

 habitable by small bats. 



The distinguishing characters of the members 

 of this Family are chiefly negative. There are 

 no nose-leaves, the nostril openings are simple, 

 and the tail is not produced to any extent be- 

 yond the interfemoral membrane. 



All the bats of the United States are of small 

 or medium size, and the majority of them belong 

 to this Family. Along the Atlantic coast, they 

 are so common that nearly every person Uving 

 beyond the confines of the great cities is per- 

 sonally acquainted with at least one species. 

 The commonest is the beautiful little Red Bat ' 

 which appears in the early twilight, gliding on 

 swift yet noiseless wings up and down the shaded 

 streets and roads, and occasionally making a 

 friendly diversion into an open window, or 

 through your veranda, partly for business pur- 

 poses, and partly as an evidence of friendly re- 

 gard. 



' Las-i-u'rus ho-re-al'is. 



