CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTION--CLASSIFICATION OF BATS--THE FRUIT-EATING BATS.

One of Æsop’s Fables--Opinions of the Ancients regarding Bats--Scaliger’s Statement of the Puzzle--Opinions of the Middle Ages--The True Position of the Bats--The Wing of the Bat--General Structure: The Breast-bone, Arms, Fingers, “Wing-membrane,” Wings, Skull, Ribs, Pelvis, Legs--In Repose--Walking--The Teats--Organs of the Senses--“Blind as a Bat”--The Eyes--Spallanzani’s Experiments--The Bat’s Power of Directing its Flight in the Darkest Places--Their Food--In Winter-Quarters--A Battue of Bats--FRUGIVOROUS AND INSECTIVOROUS BATS 259