Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 August 1877 — A Pet Bat. [ARTICLE]

A Pet Bat.

Probably do common creature bas been more rarely domesticated than the funny little bird-beast that hangs itself on a book to sleep. A writer in the New York Observer sends to print this interesting bat story, told by the lady herself, who tamed the Det: One cold morning I saw a boy tossing into the air and catching! again what I fancied to be a large mouse; of course my sympathy awoke at once, and I rushed to the rescue. It proved to be a half dead bat, very large and fat. Its beautiful, broad ears were still erect, and when I took it in my hand, I felt its heart beat. I. placed it in a basket, covered it with cotton, and put it inside the fender. 1 peeped frequently under the lid, and at last had the pleasure of seeing it hanging, bat-fashion, on the side of the basket, its keen, bright eyes watching every movement. When it was fnlly restored, I endeavored to take it out, and then discovered that one of its hind feet had been crushed and was banging by a bit Of skin. With trembling bands J. removed the little foot, and applied some salve to the extremity. All this time the poor thing continued hooked to the basket, and during the first day would take no food, would not be tempted by meat or milk, by a fly or a spider.

The next morning In* her cowering in the cotton, and whew 1 atiempred to touch her, she endeavored to bite my /Huger, and made the least possible noise you can imagine. I uflcml her a fly. and In a moment it was swallowed; a bit of meat shared the same fate, and then she folded her wings around her, Intimating that she had had enough. The bat became quite tamest last; would bang itself to my dress,, and devour whatever I gave it of animal food, and lick milk oil my Anger. It knew me well, would fly around mv room in the evenings, and go out at the window, hawking for insects, and return in a couple of hours, and hang to the window until admitted. At night it would sometimes fasten to my hSlr. but never went near my mother or the servants. It continued a great favorite..for more than two years, and at last fell a prey to some white owls that held possession of an old belfry.