The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-03-27
About Bats,

There are perhaps dozen species OF
bats respectively designed to act their
part in different parts of the world, but
they are all winged quadrupeds, vari
ous in size, corresponding to the du-
ties they have to perform and to the eli.
mates in which they are located. Of
whatever species, the bat is mammifer-
ous. 1t suckles its young, OF which it
has one or two at birth, and it's mouth
| is provided with teeth. It has four
| legs, but two of them resemble arms,
and it has tail extended from the YER
tebra. Each arm consists of two long
bones with an elbow-joint. At the outer
extremity of the arm, as with human
hand, there are four fingers and n
thumb. The fingers are long thin bones
attached lengthwise to a membranous
wing, which they expand like the slen-
der whalebones OF an umbrellas most
beautiful and effective arrangement.
The thumb projects, and is an interest.
ing member. 1t resembles claw or
hook. By means of its two hooked
thumbs the creature can suspend itself
from branches OF trees or other projec.
tlons, and is enabled to draw itself for
ward on the ground. The legs are
short, with knee joints, and the claws OF
the toes help the thumbs in the matter
of suspension. Arms, legs, and tail are
all united with the membrane of the
wings, and materially aid in propulsion
through the air. Everything in the
general structure of the animal is sub
sidiary to the function of flying. Ihe
wings, however, are inferior to the wings
of birds, such as those of the swallow.
But they perfectly fulfill their purpose.
Consisting OF membrane which wraps
the body like cloak, these bat wings
are powerful in darting swiftly in a
series of jerks and zigzags in pursuit of
moths and other insects. Besides re-
lying on its eyesight, the bat possesses
the advantage of an extremely delicate
susceptibility in its thin membranous
wings which reveals the presence of any
insect it happens to touch in its flight.
Had the wings been of feathers like
those of birds, this important quality of
detecting insects by the slightest touch
would have been lost.
NumSIOuS lduCllul uOGlOuo axe outOl
tanned regarding bats. They are said to
be able to see in the dark, and that they
are bloody and vengeful in their nature.
As concerns seeing in the dark, that is
quite erroneous. Their power of avoid
ing obstacles when flying in darkened
places is not due to their eyes, but to
that keen sensibility in their wings that
has been just alluded to. The thin
leathery wings of bats are their antenn@,
or feelers. Darting about in all direc.-
tions in utter darkness, they are never
by any chance impeded or injured by
obstacles that happen to be in their way.
Experiments have been made by stretch
ing strings acloss darkened places in
which number OF them are confined,
and no string is ever disturbed in their
flight. The e1quisitely-radiated system
of nerves in bats wing offers one OF
the finest studies in animal physiology,
or, We might say, in natural theology.
Shall creature 30 ingeniously formed
be spoken of with sentiments of hostility
or derision2 On the contrary, it should
excite our warmest admiration. Artists
from time immemorial have been in the
habit of depicting malevolent demons
with wings on the pattern of those of the
bat-a piece of conventionality wholly at
variance with what is learned from q
contemplation of the actual facts in na'
ture. The bat is no more fiendish than
the swallow or any other bird which has
been appointed to rid the atmosphere OF
superfluous and destructive insects.