d the cold weather
in sleeping, and now and then nibbling the grains of wheat which they
had buried with them. The bat has already related how he passed the
winter himself, and how he was obliged to waste some part of it in
sleep, not altogether from the effects of cold, but also from the want
of food.

CHAPTER IX.

Though the history of the squirrels and their companions was finished
in the last chapter, I still feel unwilling to part from my young
friends, who have kindly taken some interest in the events I related
for their amusement. It is true, that in the following tale no mention
will be made of any of those "smaller British quadrupeds" of whose
"habits and instincts" the title-page has engaged to communicate some
information. But it is always better to do _more_ than _less_ than
we have promised. Therefore, perhaps you will not be displeased if this
little book should contain something that you did not expect to find
there, and I hope you will think this additional chapter not less
entertaining than those you have already read.

You may remember, that Leatherwing related to the squirrel the History
of Minimus, or "Some Passages in the Life of the smallest Quadruped in
the World." In the following pages, you will find a companion to the
bat's story, and the title shall be,

SOME PASSAGES IN THE LIFE OF THE LARGEST QUADRUPED IN THE
WORLD!

As inquisitive readers may perhaps wish to be informed by what means
the following little history came into my possession, I will endeavour
to satisfy them as to its authenticity, by telling them that it was
related to me by an old man, a native of Sumatra, in which island, "the
largest quadrupeds in the world" are, or were, abundant in a wild
state. This old fellow was cook on board the ship, "All's Well," in
which (fifty-three years ago,) I first went to sea as an apprentice,
and he was called "Jolly," but what his real name was no one on board
knew nor cared. He was a merry-hearted old man, and had made himself
a great favourite, especially with us boys, by his extraordinary
abilities in "_spinning a good yarn_," as the sea-phrase goes, meaning
neither more nor less than telling a good story. The following strange
history was a favourite "yarn" of old Jolly's; and though it is now
more than half a century since I first heard it, it is still fresh in
my memory, having so often related it to my little brothers, who, on my
return home, were always very eag