BAT 
of fyftemafical Arrangement to place it in the very 
higheft clafs of animated nature. 
Bat, Common. The Common Bat is about 
the fize of a moufe, or nearly two inches and a half 
long. The members, iifualiy called wings, are 
merely tht- four interior toes of the fore-feet ex- 
tended to an enormous length, and conne£ledby a 
thin membrane, reaching alfo to the hind legs, and 
from them to the tail. The firft toe is entirely 
loofe and flexile, ferving as a heel when the Bat 
wal]<.s, or as a hook when it is defirous of adhering 
to any thing ; and the hind-feet are difengaged from 
the furrounding fl^in, and divided into five toes, 
furnilhied with fharp clav/s. The body is covered 
with fiiort fur, of a moufe-coiour tinged with redj 
and tire membranes are of a deep dufky hue. The 
eyes are fmall, and the ears exaftly refemble thofe 
of the moufe. 
This fpecies of Bat is very comm.on in England, 
and makes it's appearance early in fummer even- 
ings. It principally frequents the fides of woods, 
glades, and fnady walks; but is frequently obferved 
to ficim along the furfaces of rivers and canals. It 
generally preys on gnats, moths, and nofturnal in- 
fers of every kind. It's flight confifts in a labori- 
ous, irregular motion : and, if it happens to flrrike 
againfl: any objeft, and fall to the ground, it is ufu- 
ally caught with facility. It makes it's appearance 
only during the moft pleafant evenings ; when it's 
prey is abroad in great plenty, which it purfues with 
open mouth. At other times, it continues in it's 
retreat, v/hich is commonly the chink of a ruined 
buildino;, or the trunk of a tree. This little ani- 
mal, even in fummer, fleeps away the greateft part 
of it's time, never venturing abroad by day-light, 
nor in rainy Vv^eather ; nor ever hunting for it's prey 
except during a very fmall pait of the night. But 
it^s fhort ijJAn of aftual exiftence is ftill more 
abridged by it's continuing in a torpid flrate dur- 
ing the whole winter feafon. On the firft approach 
of cold weather, the Bat prepares for it's ftate of 
lifelefs inaftivity; and feems rather to feledl a place 
where it may rem.ain fafe from interruption, than 
where it may be warmly or conveniently lodged. 
For this reafon, it is ufually feen hanging by it's 
hooked claws to the roof of a cave, regardlels of 
the dreadful furrounding damps. The Bat, indeed, 
feems to be the only animal that will venture to re- 
main in thefe horrid fubterranean abodes, unaf- 
fefted by any p^flible change of weather. Such 
of this tribe as are not provident enough to procure 
themfelves a deep retreat, where the cold and_the 
heat can be but little afixcled by the external air, 
are fometimes expoled to great inconveniences : for 
the weather often becomes fo mild, even in the 
middle of winter, as to warm them prematurely in- 
to life, and to allure them from their holes in queft 
of food, v/hen nature has not provided them with a 
fiipply. Thefe, therefore, having feldom ftrength 
to rettirn, after exhaufting themfelves in a vain 
purfuit after infe6ls which are nowhere to be found, 
become themlelves the prey of owls, or other vo- 
racious animals. 
The Bat copulates and brings forth it's young in 
fummer, generally from two to five at a time. 
The female, however, has but two nipples, which 
are placed forward on the breaff, as in the human 
kind.. From this peculiarity, Linnseus gave the 
Bat the title of a primas, and raifed this contempti- 
ble animal to the fame order with the human fpecies. 
This affiduous enquirer into the fecrets of nature, 
gives to underftand,. that the female Bat^ unlike 
BAT 
nnoft birds and quadrupeds, builds no neft for her 
young, but feems fully fatisfied with the firft hole 
ftre meets with; wherCjfticking herfelf by her hooks 
againft the fides of her apartment, (he permits her 
young to hang at her nipple for the firft- or fecond 
day; and when fne begins to grow hungry, and is 
necelTitated to go abroad in queft of food, Ihe fticks 
her little ones againft the wall, in the fame manner; 
to which they immoveably cling, and patiently ex- 
pedl her return. 
Thus far the Bat feems clofely allied to the qua- 
druped race ; it's fimilitude to the bird being in- 
finitely lefs ftriking. As nature has furniftied birds 
with extremely ftrong peroral mufcles, to afTift 
them in moving their wings, and to direft their 
flight; fo has ftie alfo furniftied the Bat. As birds, 
likewife, have very weak legs, and unfit for the pur- 
pofes of motion, the legs of the Bat are fafhioned 
in the fame manner, and the creature is never feen 
to walk but in cafes of extreme neceftity. The toes 
of it's fore-legs extend the web-like membrane 
which lies between them. ; and this, being extremely 
thin, ferves to lift it's little body into the air. In 
this manner, by an unceafing percuffion, much 
fwifter than that of birds, the creature continues to 
direft it's flight : however, the great labour re- 
quired in flying foon fatigues it i for, extremely un-- 
like fom.e birds, which are capable of continuing 
for days together on the wing, the Bat becomes lan- 
guid in lefs than an hour, and returns to the en- 
joyment of it's retreat. 
If v/e confider the Bat as it is ufually feen in our 
ov/n country, we fliall find it an harmlefs, inoffen- 
five creature ; the general tenor of it's induftry be- 
ing employed in purfuing infefts which are much 
more noxious to us than itfelf can poftibly bej 
while it's evening flight amufes the imagination, 
and adds one figure more to the pleafing groupe of 
animated nature. 
In the Eaft and Weft Indies, Bats are truly for- 
midable; each of themfinglyis a dangerous enemy; 
but, when united in flocks, they becom.e dreadfuk 
Des Marchais informs us, that Bats are fo nume- 
rous on the coafts of Africa, that if the natives were 
to eat them, as is the cal'e in the Eaft Indies^ they 
could never want a fupply of food. In thefe re- 
gions, a flight of them is fufficient to obfcure the 
fetting fun ; and, in the morning, they are feen. 
fticking on the tops of trees, and clinging to each- 
other, like bees when they fwarm. The Europeans^ 
frequently amufe themlelves with fliooting among^^ 
this huge mafs of living creatures, and obferving;. 
their embarralTment when wounded. Thefe Bats 
fometimes enter the houfes of the negroes, and de- 
ftroy whatever provifions come within their reach,- 
Bat, Great Madagascar. This very for- 
midable creature, the roufette of BufFon, is nearly 
four feet broad when it's wings are extended, and 
one foot long. It refembles the Englifti Bat in the 
form of it's wings, in it's manner of flying, and ir^- 
it's internal confonnation; but is eflentially diffe- 
rent from it in feverai particulars. It has large' 
canine teeth; with four cutting ones above, and 
as many belov/. The nofe is black and ftiarp; the 
ears arelaa-ge, and naked; and the tongue is pointed,, 
and terminated by fliarp aculeated papillas. The 
exterior toe is detached fi'om the membrane, the 
claw being ftrong,, and hooked; the hind-feet have 
five toes, the talons of which are very flrong,. 
crooked, and compreflfed fid-eways ; and the animal 
has no tail. The head is of a dark ferruginous co- 
lour; the neck, flioulders, and under-ftde, appear of 
a lighter 
