Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 January 1875 — “As Blind as a Bat.” [ARTICLE]

“As Blind as a Bat.”

“ A good many years ago,” when we lived in an old-fashioned country farmhouse and used tallow candles ana whaleoil lamps, we remember certain intruders upon our peace that always came after dark. During the warm summer evenings, when the windows and doors were open and the rooms were very dimly lighted by one feeble and sputtering candle, these crazy-headed interlopers would suddenly make their appearance. They would fly from corner to corner and from floor to ceiling with 'the greatest rapidity. They fluttered and quivered and darted about in such an Unsystematic and unpremeditated kind of a way that w‘6 never Could place any dependence upon them. Indeed they seemed to be perfectly aimless, though us children stood in considerable fear lest they should unexpectedly aim at our faces and bite us with their terrible teeth _____ , We recollect the time when one was at last taken prisoner in broad daylight, and what a satisfaction we experienced when we were enabled to look at and even to touch the curious and homely little animal. It had previously been a mystery, and even after examination it was somewhat past comprehension. “As blind as a bat,” says many a boy or girl who, perhaps, has never seen the shadow of one or stopped to inquire whether bats are by nature without eyes or having eyes are unable to see through them. Yet bats not only have eyes which they use at certain times, but they possess a peculiar instinct or capability by which they can control their movements'utmost equally as well after their organs of vision have been destroyed. Certainly they have been created in such a wonderful manner that they are worthy of consideration and even admiration in spite of their seeming deformity and ugliness. The ancients were somewhat puzzled over these strange creatures aim were undecided as to whether they should be called birds or quadrupeds. Aristotle calls them “birds with shiny wings.” Pliny says they are “birds which suckle their young.” Another writer thinks they are “ most marvelous beings because they can walk without paws, fly without wings, see when there is no light, and become sightless when Our own first impressions were that they were winged mice. They are similar to birds only iu one respect: They can fly, and they live in the air, mostly, instead of on the ground. They appear very awkward when they attempt to walk, proceeding with an irregular hobble and jump, their limbs not being formed for walking. Their forearms are very much elongated, the finger-bones are still more lengthened, and over these is extended a soft, delicate, leathery membrane which answers the purpose of wings. These curious wings are provided with a short thumb which has a crooked nail and with this hook they climb the sides of caverns or suspend themselves when they wish to rest. Their hind feet are small and weak, each divided into five toes, also armed with nails. Their most usual method of alighting is by attaching the hooks of their posterior extremities to the projections of caves or old buildings, where they hang, with their heads down and their wings folded. The mouths ot these strange animals are very large and provided with three kinds of teeth—sufficient, probably, to place them among “ beasts of prey.” Their eyes are very small and possess the faculty of seeing only in the night. The presence of light blinds them quite effectually. Their ears are as large in proportion as their eyes are small, and in some species their nostrils are developed to such an extentas to render their physiognomy perfectly hideous. But let no one look with contempt upon these disagreeable little animals. They have their own work to perform. Their food consists of various kinds of insects which go abroad in swarms during the hours of darkness; and the unsightly bat may have been created as much for our well-being as many other creatures far more beautiful and attractive. They are surely marvelous in one respect. It has been ascertained that after their eyes have been put out they will continue to go in search of food as usual, avoid all obstacles put in their wav. and even pass between threads suspended in the air without touching them ! with their wings. Their wings are supposed to be so peculiarly sensitive as to perceive the reaction of the air against the surface of any near object. When cold weather approaches bats retire in great numbers to some dark place of security, where they remain in a torpid state till the return of the warm season. A boy once captured a young bat, and, after keeping it at home several hours, he started in the evening to carry it to the museum. Passing near the place where it was caught the mother-bat made its appearance, followed the boy several squares, and finally alighted on his shoulder and entered captivity also rather than forsake her offspring. This shows that bats are capable of affection for their young like other quadrupeds. The idea that these inferior little creatures choose the night for their appearance from desire of concealment is altogether too poetical for belief. They, like all other beings, only live in conformity to the laws of their organization.