THE BAT. 
248 
chooses to fly, and fold up into a small space 
when it is at rest. 
The bat’s wings are formed of delicate 
membranes, like thin leather, stretched upon 
the bones, which correspond with the fore-leg 
in quadrupeds. So far they resemble those of 
birds, but they differ in the materials of which 
they are composed, and in the similitude of 
the bones to those of the human hand. They 
have, what is peculiar to themselves, a hook- 
like process attached to the bone of the wing, 
by which they lay hold and support themselves 
upon the cornices of buildings, and so far em- 
ploy their wings as hands. These wings, when 
extended, are of great length. In the larger 
species, found in some parts of India, Africa, 
and South America, celebrated under the 
name of vampyre, they often measure five 
feet ; and Sir Hans Sloane was in possession 
of a specimen, brought’ from Sumatra, the 
wings of which measured seven feet. 
