Clafs I. S H O R T E A R E D BAT. ' 115 



The fpecies i^ow defcribed, is the larger of the tv/o 

 kinds found in England ; and the mofl: com'Tion : the 

 ufual length of it, is about two inches and' a half: 

 the extent of the fore-legs nine inches. 



The; members that are ufually called the wings, are 

 nothing more than the four interior toes' of the fore- 

 feet, produced to a great length, and connected by a' 

 thin menibrane j which extends alio to the hind legs ; 

 and from them, to the tail : the firft toe is quite loofe, 

 and ferves as a heel, when the bat walks j or as a 

 hook, when it would adhere to any thmg. The 

 hind ittt are difengaged from the membrane, and 

 divided into five toes, furnillied with pretty ilrong 

 claws. The memjbranes are of a duflvy color : the 

 body is covered with fhort fur, of a moufe-color, 

 tinged with red. The eyes are very fmall : the 

 ears like thofe of the moufe. 



This fpecies of bat is very common in England: it 

 makes its firft appearance early in the fummer, and 

 begins its flight in the dufk of the evening : it princi- 

 pally frequents the fides of woods, glades, and fhadv 

 walks \ and is alfo frequently obferved to flvim ak')ng 

 the furface of pieces of water, in quefc of gnats and 

 infedls : thefe are not its only food ; for it will eat 

 meat of any kind that it happens to find hanging up, 

 in a larder. 



The bat brings only two you n£; at a time; which 

 it fuckles from two tears placed on the bread, like 

 thofe of the human race : for this reafbn, Limt^us has- 

 claiTed this animal in the fame order wirh mankind ; 

 and has honored both, with the common title of P/v- 

 mcHSi or chiefs of the creation. 



\ I Towards 



