Chap. L] 



BATS. 



17 



bees or midges. After these recreations, they hurry back 

 to their favourite trees, chattering and screaming like 

 monkeys, and always wrangling and contending angrily 

 for the most shady and comfortable places in which 

 to hang for the rest of the day protected from the sun. 

 The branches they resort to soon become almost di- 

 vested of leaves, these being stripped off by the action 

 of the bats, attaching and detaching themselves by 

 means of their hooked feet. At sunset, they fly off to 

 their feeding-grounds, probably at a considerable dis- 

 tance, as it requires a large area to furnish sufficient 

 food for such multitudes. 



In all its movements and attitudes, the action of the 

 Pteropus is highly interesting. If placed upon the 

 ground, it is almost helpless, none of its limbs being 

 calculated for progressive motion ; it drags itself along 

 by means of the hook attached to each of its extended 

 thumbs, pushing at the same time with those of its hind 

 feet. Its natural position is exclusively pensile ; it moves 

 laterally from branch to branch with great ease, by using 

 each foot alternately, and climbs, when necessary, by 

 means of its claws. 



When at rest, or asleep, the disposition of the limbs 

 is most curious. At such times it suspends itself by one 

 foot only, bringing the other close to its side, and thus it 

 is enabled to wrap itself in the ample folds of its wings, 

 which envelop it like a mantle, leaving only its up- 

 turned head uncovered. Its fur is thus protected from 

 damp and rain, and to some extent its body is sheltered 

 from the sun. 



As it collects its food by means of its mouth, either 

 when on the wing, or when suspended within reach of 

 it, the flying-fox is always more or less liable to 



c 



