xsii Cheieopteea. MAMMALIA. Cheikoptkba. 
Order III.— CHEIROPTERA. 
Wing-Handed animals, comprising the Bats alone, 
are indicated by the term of this Order, the two 
Greek words composing the name meaning hand and 
wing respectively. 'J’heyare found in all parts of the 
world, some groups being confined to the Eastern 
Continent, others are peculiar to the Western ; while 
in some instances they are cosmopolitan. Species in 
this Order are very numerous, over four hundred hav- 
ing been described. 
We have derived from Wallace’s late work, Geo- 
graphical Distribution of Mammals, the following 
arrangement of the Cheiroptera : 
In the family Pteropidm, he makes nine genera and 
sixty-five species, all belonging to the Old World 
exclusively. 
In the family Phyllostomi(lm,i\\\viY-ox\& genera and 
sixty species are recorded. These are the Leaf-nosed 
Bats, and are confined to the region east of the Andes, 
to latitude 33° South, in Chili. The “ Blood-suck- 
ing” Bats, or Vampires, belong to this group. 
'I’he family Rhinolophidae comprises seven genera 
and seventy species. 'J’hese are the curious “ Horse- 
.shoe ” Bats, peculiar to the Old World. 
In the family Vespertilionidai he records eighteen 
genera and two hundred species, inhabiting various 
parts of the world : in America, as far north as Hud- 
son’s Bay and the Columbia River. In Europe they 
approach, if they do not pass, the Arctic Circle. 'I'lie 
remote islands of Azores, Bermudas, Fiji, Sandwich, 
and New Zealand, all have representatives of this 
family. 
In the family PfocUUonidm, there are fourteen 
genera and fifty species. I’liese, called the Short- 
headed Bats, are found in every region, but irregularly 
distributed. In America they range from Mexico and 
California to Chili. 
Fossil Extinct Cheiroptera. 
In the Upper Eocene, fossil bones of this Order 
have been found by Cuvier. A complete skeleton of 
the form named Vespertilio parisiensis was taken 
from the Gypsum of Montmartre. Six fossil species 
have been found liy Lund in the caves of Brazil. 
Bats are naturally at ease while on the wing, or in 
the presence of an object sufficiently large to attach 
themselves to. Dark caverns are particularly desira- 
ble localities. 
The extensive caverns in the mountainous regions 
of the Helderbergs and the Alleghanies are frequent- 
ed by myriads. Here, particularly in the Cave of 
Schoharie, we have seen them clinging to the rough 
walls, densely massed. At such times, if suddenly 
put to flight, they appear to rise simultaneously, as a 
cloud, and the rush of air thus occasioned reverberates 
in deafening peals. Bats do not like the ground, and 
when forced to progress upon a surface, make a most 
uncouth appearance. They rise from the earth with 
difficulty, preferring to climb to a certain height, to 
throw themselves outwards and upwards, and thus 
to take wing. This is always accomplished with the 
head downwards, and with face towards the wall. It 
will be seen, then, that as they drop and take wing, 
they are sure to come right side uppermost. It has 
been a matter of surprise that the Bat, with its ex- 
tremely minute organs of vision, can see so clearly 
and accurately in the darkest nights. The experi- 
ments of Spallanzani, testing this matter by depriving 
one of sight, and then submitting it to experiments, 
which proved that its eyes were not essential to a 
perfect performance of its customary evolutions, are 
given in detail, in vol. i, p. 49. 
A curious habit in the Common Bat of the North- 
ern States is known to every school-boy : ‘^Bat ! 
Bat! ! come into my hat,” is a familiar exclamation, 
and a toss of the old beaver into the air will most 
surely bring Bat down, and not unfrequently into the 
hat. When managed skilfully, the boy is apt to win. 
'I’he skeleton of the Bat is much like that of the 
higher forms in its general aspect, and, in the pos- 
session of full-sized clavicles, its chest looks marvel- 
lously like the human. It is well named wing-handed, 
for the elongated fingers form a strong, yet delicate 
frame-work for the thin membrane which lies between, 
'i’he thumb is highly utilized, notwithstanding it has 
been reduced, or rather has not been developed 
equally with the fingers ; it serves the very important 
purpose of a support for the claws upon which the 
female Bat hangs while at rest with a lapful of young. 
'I'lie sense of smell is remarkably developed in the 
Bats, curious leaf-like appendages being seen in some, 
attached to the nostrils ; this seems to argue a pur- 
pose, and the presence of similar appendages to the 
ear probably indicates a keen sense of hearing. A 
singular sucking apparatus is seen in the Phyllostomes, 
which aids them in drawing the juices of plants, or the 
flesh on which they may feed. During the colder 
season the Bat hybernates, seeking out some obscure 
recess of the cave that it frequents. See vol. i, p. 50, 
for an interesting account of this habit. 
There is little to record of the habits of Bats. 
They are generally known as nocturnal or crepuscular 
in their mode of life. Opportunities are offered oc- 
casionally, however, for observing them. One of the 
most notable examples of the congregation of Bats is 
recorded in i\\& Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, 
vol. vii, in the form of a letter from M. Figaniere, 
Portuguese Minister to the United States, addressed 
to Prof. Henry, Secretary of the Smitlisonian Insti- 
tution. He says: “ Having purchased the property 
known as Seneca Point, in Cecil County, Maryland, 
near Charlestown, we took possession of it in May of 
the following year. The dwelling is a brick structure, 
covered with slate, in the form of an L, two storied. 
