BATS. 



57 



White Whale Hves in the northern seas, and is from 

 ten to twenty feet lont^^ It often ascends rivers, and 



Fig. 74. —White Whale. 



is frequently seen in the St. Lawrence. One about 

 ten feet long, was kept for two years in the Aquarial 

 Gardens in Boston. He was quite docile, knew his 

 keeper, would take food from his hand, was trained to 

 a harness, and drew a car prepared for the purpose. 



The Mammals already described are mostly of large 

 size ; we now come to the smaller ones. 



Bats, or Cheiroptera. 



Bats are animals which have a thin skin reaching 

 from the arm to the hind legs, and extending" to the 

 ends of their long fingers. By means of this skin they 

 can fly as easily as birds, and their flight is noiseless 



Fig. 75. — Hoary ii:\t. 



and rapid. The body is covered with soft fur. Their 

 eyes are very small, their ears large, and the thumb has 



