A FLYING MAMMAL 
“Uncle Jack, here is the queerest creature up in this 
bush,” called Marylee. “I don’t know what it is. Come 
and see if it is alive.” 
Uncle Jack came to see what it was that Marylee had 
found. He pushed aside the leaves, so that he could look 
into the bush. “A fine treasure, Marylee,” he said. “That 
is a bat hanging by its toes and having a quiet sleep.” 
“Is it the kind of bat that we see flying around in the 
evening?” asked Marylee. 
“Yes,” answered Uncle Jack. “It works hard at night 
and likes to sleep during the day. Some kinds of bats 
get into old barns, houses, or caves to sleep. But this 
kind likes fresh air; so it goes to sleep in a bush or tree.” 
“I don’t see how it can hang by its feet all day,” said 
Fred. “I get tired in just a little while when I hang by 
my knees.” 
“The bat doesn’t get tired because it has strong toes, 
whose sharp claws are like little hooks. It fastens these 
toes around a twig and hangs there without ever getting 
tired.” 
“Oh, it has waked up now,” cried Marylee. “See, it 
is making faces at me. Isn’t it the funniest thing you 
ever saw? It must be trying to tell us to go away and 
let it sleep. Look at its sharp little teeth!” 
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