Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-07-12
A PLEA FOR THE A
or of Agricultural Education, University Of Texaz.)

There are few forms of life that are So
common. So studied, so intensely interest
inc. Of such great economic Importance.
and with AT this. % poorly understood a@
this little animal that appears 10 bc half
bird and hall mouse. Did YOU ever stop
and observe , bat closely They are worn
noticing. The plan upon which Mature
built the LITTLE creature i- enough 10 de
mand your attention. b1t when YOU add
to this the hundreds of interesting things
to be learned about this winged, furry. lit
tie ball, you can begin &C. appreciate more
fully one Of Natures wonders.
Unlike birds, bat- ~ not lay eggs. They
are mammalian Ill their nature and givc
birth ~ their Young The little ones IRE
usually born III Jane or July and nearly al-
ways occJlr a~ twins. The mother hat Grad
les ber babies III her soft. silky wings,
while they nurse. IN the evening when she
goeS out To feed she frequently allows her
children to cling ON to her meek and gives
them a ride filed with the excitement that
one must feel riding IN I'D areoplanc. for
in wing celebrity and q%nichne~- of turning
Nh bat W nexcclcd. vi. however, the
mother bat doe not want to be cucumber
cd with this extra burden I'D her search for
insects. she hang her TINY youngsters on
n friendly tvig and comes back for them
after she has finished feeding
For a close study of the bat we should
catch one and place II m q cage. They
make very nice pet. They are a BIZ timid
and shy M o.. but they loon learn t.
know who brings them food and become
very tame IN \ ~hort time. They will eat
insects and bits III raw meat which may
be- given them from the point 81 \ tooth
pick or M Il similar manner. When first
captured the bat viii bite. a. his Is it,
sole method of fighting. But after they
have been IN captivity for a time they may
be handled without fear of injury. This
study III the cage will recall 2 great many
things Of interest regarding this most pc
c~uliarlv constructed hit ~ life. Ii gives an
opportunity 10 observe the ~"lit. silky fur
that covers the body. tile thin. mulberry
membrane Of which the wings are made;
itf HUM VII tAf WIZ Nv with if 'Ati-~
himself along: hi- wee small Ices with his
knees bending backwards: the Tiny. ENACT
atcd feet with the five wirc-likc toes uu
each; his funny habit of sleeping with his
head hanging down. and numerous other
things peculiar ~ ~ other creature.
The greater number ~ people have never
seen a bat except when hc Was darling
swiftly first VI one direction and then III
another III hi~ search Tor food. And there
are certain things about his ANATOMY that
the casual observer might not learn even
when attempting Ia study him closely. II
would be impossible mol to notice the lit
tie pink mouth filed with sharp. pcariy-
white teeth: the two keen, dccp--ct eve:
the funny little hurk- WYE the wings. and
various other things. But there are many
things "a ~ learned about This little crca-
ture Of the air that ARE hot ~ easily OBJ
served. one III these IL that fhc WINS are
equipped with the most sensitive nerves.
that inform the liver of any object IN his
path. This u the reason that the bat can
dart around ~ rooms and among the
branches Of trees "a such \ terrific speed
and never come III contact with an object.
ii j. said that some people were eager d"
test the ~cn~itivcnc~~ nt these nerves ana
IN order to ~ ~o. they closed wit THE doors
and wlnlow~ ~ 4 room, bliHdt"ldcd \ bat
and turned HIM loose III the room. IT.
flew around among those ~lrnc~ with
ont ever touching one. But the bat does
have uSe for his ewes. ~ blind 9~ hat"