New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-16

THEY MAY BE STUDIED IN CAPTIVITY At THE GEOLOGICAL
GARDEN IN BRONX PARK.
BEEBE SOCIETY

Probably the knowledge Of bats which most Of
possess is derived chiefly from the tmaginations
Of artists and poets. who. unlike the Chinese, do
not look upon these creatures with much favor, and
generally symbolic them in connection with pct-
ures and passages which relate TO the regions in
ferna But this is entirely unjust Their nocturnal
habits and consequent ignorance OF their
characteristics are the only causes which can &C
count for their being associated with the realm OF
Satan.
In our museums we see bats stuffed and mounted
on sheets Of plate glass and. although we may
learn much from examining these, yet the best
place TO watch these curious creatures Is the mon
key house OF the New York geological Park, where
there is a cageful Of eight large Indian fruit bats
This little colony Of inverted life which at first
glance brings TO mind some OF the experiences OF
.'C;ulliver's Travels" win teach us many things
Of interest II watch the members OF II few
minutes
In some places bats called hittermice. but
they are more nearly related 10 moles. shrews
and other insect eaters than TO rats and mice. II
look at the skeleton OF an animal which walks
or hops We will notice that its hind limbs are
much the stronger. and the girdle which connects
these with the backbone is composed OF strong
and heavy bones. In bats reverse condition IS
found the pectoral girdle. or bones correspond
ing to our coIlarbones etc. greatly developed
This in birds. is. OF course. an adaptation 10
give surface for the attachment OF the great pro-
polling muscles. Although the hand OF the bat IS
so strangely altered yet. Will see il We
fingers. as we have. sour of which are very long
and thin. and the webs. of which We have a very
noticeable trace in our hands stretch from finger
to finger and 10 the body. and even down each
leg ending squarely the ankle. thus giving
the creature an absurd look OF having on a very
, broad. baggy pair OF trousers
One of the fruit bats starts tour OF
inspection OF his cage. \ horizontal ladder like
a series Of small round sticks forms his tramping
ground. He steps from to another rapidly,
hooking on sometimes with all five toes. but gen
orally with four three There seems TO be little
power in these toes except Of remaining bent in a
hooked position; for when our bat stops and draws
up one foot scratch his head the claws are
merely jerked through the fur by motions Of the
whole leg, not by individual movements Of the
separate toes. In this motion notice, for the
first time. that the legs and feet grow in kind
of spread eagle position making the knees point
backward, in the same direction the elbows
We must stop a moment to admire the beautiful.
the back nearly black. The tiny inverted face is
very attractive. the large. brown eyes not seeming
much disconnected by the daylight. although the
smiling. show how much their owner depends
them for information. II we move suddenly up
closer TO the wires the bat nearest us opens both
wings. owl-like. in a threatening manner; but if
make still hostile motions the creature
retreats hastily as IT can. changing its method
Of progress to an all-fours'. slothrke gait. the
long, free thumb Of each hand grasprg stick after
stick and doing most OF the leverage. the hind legs
following paSSively.
When at what he judges Il safe distance he again