ILENTLY, BY NIGHT

by Russell Peterson ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 31, 1964

(YA) The mysterious world of the bat, better known to us for the allusions he inspires than for his habits, is explored with a keen sense of the creature's ""otherness"" by a gentleman who has searched them out in New Cuinea and Australia as well as America. Russell Peterson promotes the bat as ""one of the most highly specialized mammals next to man himself,"" and finds him a fascinating fellow, albeit he can transmit rabies not only by bite but by droppings. He is out not to anthropomorphize but at least to canomorphize the bat, and when he introduces friendly Freddy Craig, the fruit bat who was expedition pet in New Guinea, one is certainly charmed. Such moments aside, the main matter of this book is the description, with sketches, of megachiroptera and microchiroptera, from dog-faced to leaf chinned specimens, and the indication of habitats and habits. Such elements of make-up as sonar equipment (studied by Drs. Griffin and Webster at Harvard), teeth; such behavioral patterns as hibernation (deep freeze) or migration of various species; such activities as procreation all receive attention. So do those highly touted specialists in bloodletting, the vampires. When all is said and done, it pays to choose one's friends carefully among bats. While Mr. Peterson is very level-headed in this interest (not at all batty over bats), his intriguing book may well serve as an ave atque vale to his subject for the general reader.

Pub Date: July 31, 1964

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: McGraw-Hill

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 1964

Categories: NONFICTION