A YOUNG NATURALIST. 



259 



taking up a position at the entrance, made every preparation 

 to enrich our collections. Two bats soon fell, beaten 

 down by our switches. Lucien examined them without 

 much repugnance, but the shape of their muzzles surprised 

 him even more than their wings. One of those which he 

 examined had lips cloven in the middle and doubled back ; 

 the other had a flat nose and still more hideous visage, 

 and possessed, instead of ears, two enormous holes, at the 

 bottom of which were situate its black and brilliant eyes. 

 Added to this, the membrane of its wings was so thin and 

 transparent that it seemed as if it must tear with the slight- 

 est exertion. The poor little animal gradually recovered it- 

 self, and showed its delicate and sharp teeth. Sumichrast 

 took it up, and hung it by the claw at the end of its fore- 

 arm, in order to show Lucien the way in which these crea- 

 tures cling to the rough places which form their usual rest- 

 ing-place ; but it suddenly let go its hold, and disappeared 

 in the dark cave open in front of us. 



The bat, apparently an imperfectly-formed creature, was 

 for a long time a puzzle to naturalists. Fontaine makes it 

 say: 



"I am a bird; look at my wings! 

 I am a mouse; the mice forever!" 



Savants, also, used to describe it as a bird provided with 

 hair instead of feathers, and with teeth instead of a bill. 

 Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire was the first to teach that the wings 

 of the bat are nothing but the fingers of the animal joined 

 together by a thin membrane. I had thus another oppor- 

 tunity of proving to Lucien the wisdom of our Creator, and 

 the simplicity of the means He employs in producing the 

 infinite variety of beings which people the universe. 



" This is the first time," cried l'Encuerado, indignantly, 

 " that I have heard the devil made use of as a means of be- 

 stowing praise upon Almighty God." 



