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The Batt or Flutter-Moufe.
Numb. C l.
IS a Creature between a Bird and a Beaft, of which there a're three L
Kinds, that we know of, viz. the fmall common fort, frequent in
England'; another fort about one fourth bigger than the common
with large double Ears about an Inch and a half long; and a third
Kind brought from the Indies, one of which is now in the Pofleffion
of Mr. Dandridge, whofe Body is twelve Inches long, breadth, when
the Wings were expanded, two Foot, its Head and Neck refembling a
Fox both in Colour and Shape, the reft of the Body and Wings black.
This is the largeft I ever law: In the fmall ones there is no remarkable
Difference, but the iize of their Parts. Thefe Animals partake o f the
four-footed Kind in the Make of the Head, which agrees with thofe of
the Moufe or Rat kind; the fhape of the Trunk of their Bodies like-
wile is much the fame; and are both covered with Hair: They alfo
bring forth their young ones perfeftly formed, like the four-footed kind,
and give them fuck. They partake of the Bird kind in having only
two Legs, befides the Hooks at the Pinions of their Wings: they have
the Power of flying, the Note or Voice of thefe Animals is between
the chirping of Birds, and the cry of four-footed Beafts ; it is faid the
Batt fleeps all the Winter in Holes of old Houfes and Walls; it very
rarely appears in the Day .time, but flies in the Dusk of the Evening
only; the Wings of a Batt are wonderful ftrange, confifting of one intire
Skin, webb’d together like the Feet of Water-Fowl; the Claws or Hooks
on the tops of the Wings this Creature makes ufe of, to hang by to
any thing it is minded; whilft it is either feeding, or fleeping & c.
It feeds on Bacon, Cheefe, & c. This I had from Sir Robert Abdy,
which he found with feveral more in a hollow Tree in his Park.