478 MAMMALIA. 



the ears may be large and sensitive. The tail (T) is sometimes 

 included in the patagium, which stretches between the hind- 

 limbs. Bats are either nocturnal or crepuscular, and therefore 

 the eyes are small, the sense of touch being correspondingly 

 developed. They pass the day hanging up iji hollow trees, 

 amongst masonry, in caves and the crevices of rocks. Only 

 insectivorous bats (Insectivora) occur in Europe ; the Fiiigivora 

 occur in Australia, Java, Asia, &c. 



We have at least seventeen species in England, the commonest 

 being the Pipistrelle (VesperttUo pipistrella), the Long-eared 

 Bat (Plecohts auriius) (fig. 225), the Large j^octule (F. noc- 

 tula), and two Horseshoe Bats {Rhinoloplius feniim-eqiiimim 

 and hipposideros), which have a curious leaf -like structure 

 attached to the nose, of a sensory nature. These bats feed 

 chiefly on moths, and thus prevent large numbers of cater- 

 pillars from attacking our crops and fruit. 



The other orders of Mammalia are not of any special im- 

 portance to us, and thus need not be referred to in this text- 

 book. 



The Animal Kingdom culminates in the order Primates, 

 which includes the Quadimmana or Monkeys and Lemurs, and 

 the Bimana or Anthropoid Apes and Man. 



