114 
STIilX ^LA^fMEA. 
creature is a ^-eat pest to tlie meadows, burrowing ’ 
them in every direction; but is particularly injurio''^ 
to the embankments raised along the river, perforaW’s 
them in numerous directions, and admitting the wah’^ 
which afterwards efFei^ts dangerous breaches, inundati''® 
large extents of these low grounds, — and thus thw 
become the instrninents of their own destruction. , 
their general tigure they beicr great resemblance to 
common musk rat, and, like them, swim and dive 
They feed on the bulbous roots of plants, and also o 
garlic, of which they are rimiarkably fond. , ^ 
Another favourite prey of most of our owls ^ 
s])ecies of bat, >vhich also appears to be a nondescriP^ 
The length of this hat, from the nose to the tip of * 
tail, is four inches ; the tail itself is as long as the bo ..j 
but generally curls up inwards ; the general colour 
a bright iron gray, the fur being of a reddish cream 
bottom, then strongly tinged with lake, and minutr J 
ti])t with white ; the ears are sciircely half an inch lm‘^’ 
with two slight valves ; the nostrils arc someo'k 
tubular; fore teeth, in the upper jaw none, 
lower four, not reckoning the tusks ; the eyes are 'O J 
small black points ; the chin, upper part of the br^ 
and head, are of a pale reddish cream colour ; the 
have a single hook, or claw each, and are so constroc*%' 
that the animal may hang either with its head or 
downward. I have several times found two hanH' ^ 
fast locked together behind a leaf, the hook of 
fixed in the mouth of the other; the hind feet 
furnished with live toes, sharp-clawed ; the nienibm 
of the wings is dusky, shafts, light brown; ja 
twelve inches. In a cave, not far from Carlisw'^ji,. 
Pennsylvania, I found a number of these bats m 
depth of winter, in very severe weather : they 
lying oil the |>rojecting shelves of the rocks, and, ■>' g 
tile brand of lire was held near them, wrinkled up | 
mouths, showing their teeth ; when held in the ' 
for a short time, they became active, and, after 
carried into a stove room, flew about as lively as 6' 
