Uasmankm t?ield Naturalists Club 
Quarterly News 
NO. 10. 
OCT. 1939 
TASMANIAN BATS. 
By D.C.P. 
It may come as a surprise to some people to 
hear that we have eight different species of hats 
in Tasmania. These quaint little creatures are 
the only true flying mammals, the so-called 'fly¬ 
ing* phalangers, 'flying' lemurs, etc. do not fly, 
they only volplane or glide hy stretching out the 
membranes between their limbs. 
Bats have a true wing made of thin membrane 
which they use much like a bird and quite as 
effectively. The scientific name for the Oi*der 
is Chiroptera , meaning hand-winged, the bones of 
the hand being greatly elongated, excepting the 
thumb, to form the frame of the wing-membrane. 
They rest during the day in some cranny or.hollow 
tree, hanging upside down by the claws of the hind 
feet. In the evening they come out to spend the 
night hunting insects, millions of which are eaten 
by these beneficial little animals. 
All our bats are harmless and should be con¬ 
sidered welcome guests round the home. 
