HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 475 



It makes its firft appearance early in the fummer. It 

 fleeps during the day, and begins its flight in the duflc of 

 the evening. It frequents the fides of woods, glades, 

 and fhady walks ; and is frequently obferved to ikim a- 

 long the furface of the water in queft of gnats and other 

 infects, which are its principal food. 



Its membranes or wings are of a dufky colour, and 

 very thin : They extend from the fore feet to the tail. 

 The hind feet are divided into five toes, furnifhed with 

 claws ; The body is covered with a fhort foft fur, of a 

 moufe-colour, tinged with red: The eyes are veryfmall; 

 and the ears like thofe of a Moufe : It has four cutting 

 teeth in the upper jaw, and fix in the under. 



The female produces two young at a time, which {he 

 fu.ckles at her bread ; and is faid to carry them when fly- 

 ing. 



Towards the end of fummer, the Bat retires into 

 caves, old buildings, or hollow trees, where it remains 

 in a ftate of inactivity. During winter, fome cover 

 themfelves with their wings as with a mantle, and fuf- 

 pend themfelves by the hind feet ; others (lick faft to old 

 walls j and fome retire into holes. 



