64 
ORDERS OF MAMMALS— BATS 
membrane between the legs, either rising from 
its upper surface, or projecting beyond its end. 
The muzzle is rather blunt, and the nostrils 
open beyond the upper lip. 
The Bonneted Bat , 1 of California and Mexico, 
is one of the largest of our species of free-tailed 
bats. Above the shoulders it looks like a rat 
wearing a poke bonnet. Its head-and-body 
length is 2f inches, tail 1 total length of ear, 
If inches. One-half the tail is free. 
The Naked Bat , 2 of Borneo, Java and Suma- 
tra, is one of the most remarkable species of the 
entire Order of Bats, and in some respects is the 
widest departure from the typical bat. In the 
interior mountains of Sarawak, Borneo, I once 
secured ten fine specimens, and to me they are 
as wonderful to-day as when handled for the first 
lime. 
As its name implies, this bat is practically 
destitute of hair, the only hair noticeable be- 
ing a few stiff, black bristles on the neck, and 
a little microscopic fuzz on the breast and hind- 
quarters. The skin is thick and leathery, lying 
in numerous creases and folds, and on the living 
animal it is very elastic. There is no nose-leaf, 
and the lips are very thick and fleshy. The tail 
is free of parachute membrane for two-thirds of 
its length, and is quite like the tail of a mole. 
On the joint at the base of the thumb there is a 
large, callous tubercle, which indicates that this 
bat is much given to crawling about on “all 
fours,” on rocks and tree-trunks. 
Around the neck, the skin lies in two thick 
folds, and in these, directly under the chin, is 
situated a deep gland or sac which secretes a 
gummy substance with an odor both strong and 
disagreeable. Clearly, like the scent-gland of 
the skunk, it is for defence. 
The most wonderful feature of the Naked Bat 
is yet to be noticed. On seeing this species 
for the first time, one’s first thought is, how 
do the young bats cling to the parents during 
flight? 
Nature, ever wise and provident, has answered 
this question by placing under each arm of this 
bat a deep, wide pocket of rubber-like skin, 
in which the young are carried until they are 
able to fly! The mouth of this pocket is on a 
line between the elbow and the knee, and it 
1 Pro'mops cal-i-for'ni-cus. 
2 Chei-ro-me'les tor-qua'tus. 
extends upward and backward, over the en- 
tire shoulder, quite to the back-bone, where the 
two sacs are separated by a thin partition of 
skin. The pouch is If inches deep, and in its 
lower portion, against the ribs, is located the 
mammary gland. On the whole, this is the 
most wonderful infant-pouch possessed by any 
living creature, not even excepting that of the 
marsupials, which is much more simple. 
My largest specimen of this bat had a head- 
and-body length of 5-2 inches, tail 2 inches long, 
and a wing expanse of 22 inches. In the skin 
were many curious folds. The face of the 
Naked Bat is coarse and ugly, and the body is 
quite devoid of grace and beauty; but ere one 
has time to scoff at such homeliness, the creature 
seems to say, — “Study me; for I am fearfully 
and wonderfully made!” 
This bat lives upon fruit and vegetation, and 
nests in hollow trees, rock crevices, or in holes 
in the earth. The illustration on page 59 was 
drawn from one of my Bornean specimens. 
THE FAMILY OF COMMON BATS. 
V espertilionidae. 
These are the bats that are most widely known, 
and also the most numerous. Dr. E. L. Troues- 
sart recognizes more than 200 species. They 
range over all portions of the world that are 
habitable by small bats. 
The distinguishing characters of the members 
of this Family are chiefly negative. There are 
no nose-leaves, the nostril openings are simple, 
and the tail is not produced to any extent be- 
yond the interfemoral membrane. 
All the bats of the United States are of small 
or medium size, and the majority of them belong 
to this Family. Along the Atlantic coast, they 
are so common that nearly every person living 
beyond the confines of the great cities is per- 
sonally acquainted with at least one species. 
The commonest is the beautiful little Red Bat 3 
which appears in the early twilight, gliding on 
swift yet noiseless wings up and down the shaded 
streets and roads, and occasionally making a 
friendly diversion into an open window, or 
through your veranda, partly for business pur- 
poses, and partly as an evidence of friendly re- 
gard. 
3 Las-i-u' rus bo-re-al'is. 
