BATS. 35 
The eyes are of a brownish yellow colour, and very sensitive to light, as 
may be expected in a creature so entirely nocturnal in its habits. It is not a 
very small animal, measuring almost a yard in total length, of which the tail 
occupies one moiety. 
THE strange ail which is known by the name of the FLyING LEMUR, 
or COLUGO, affords an intermediate link of transition between the four-handed 
and the wing-handed mamunals. ; ; 
By means of the Jargely-developed membrane which connects the limbs 
with each other, and the hinder limbs with the tail, the Colugo is enabled to 
leap through very great distances, and to pass from one bough to another with 
ease. This membrane is a prolongation of the natural skin, and is covered 
with hair on the upper side as thickly as any part of the body, but beneath 
it is almost naked. When the creature desires to make one of its long 
sweeping leaps, it spreads its limbs as widely as possible, and thus converts 
itself into a kind of living kite, as is shown in the figure. By thus presenting 
a large surface to the air, it can be supported in its passage between the 
branches, and is said to vary its course slightly by the movement of its arms. 
It is said that the Colugo will thus pass over nearly a hundred yards, 
Among other bat-like habits, the Colugo 1s accustomed to suspend itself by 
its hinder paws from the branch of a tree, and in this pendent attitude it 
sleeps. Its slumbers are mostly diurnal, for the Colugo is a night-loving animal, 
and 1s seldom seen in motion until the shades of evening draw on. But on 
the approach of night, the Colugo awakes from its drowsiness, and unhooking 
its claws from the branch on which it has hung suspended during the hours 
of daylight, sets off on its travels in search of food. 
It is found in many of the islands that belong to the Indian Archipelago, 
and is tolerably common. 
The colour of the fur is very uncertain, even in the same species, some 
specimens being of a light brown, others of a grey tint, more or less deep ; 
while many individuals have their fur diversified with irregular marblings or 
stripes, or spots of different shades and tints. - 
The Colugo is by no means a small animal, as, when it is full grown, it 
equals a large cat in size. 
CHEIROPTERA ; 
OR, WING-HANDED ANIMALS, POPULARLY CALLED BATS. 
IN general form the Bats are clearly separated from any other group of 
animals, and by most evident modifications of structure, can be recognised 
by the most cursory glance. 
The first peculiarity in the Bat form which strikes the eye. is the wide —..d 
delicate membrane which stretches round the body, and which is used in the 
place of the wings with which birds are furnished. 
In order to support this beautiful membrane, \» extend it to its requisite 
width, and to strike the air with it for the purposes of flight, the bones of the 
fore-part of the body, and especially those of the arms and hands, undergo a 
singular modification. 
The finger-bones are strangely disproportioned to the remainder of the body, 
the middle finger being considerably longer than the head and body together. 
The thumb is very much shorter than any of the fingers, and furnished with 
a sharp and curved claw. By means of this claw, the Bat is enabled to proceed 
along a level surface, and to attach itself to any object that may be convenienc. 
The lower portions of the body and limbs are singularly small in proportion 
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