Penny Entringer, age 7, of Chester, S. D., for her question;

Is the bat a bird or an animal?

All living creatures are either plants or animals. So both the bat and the bird are animals. However, the bird belongs in the bird class and the bat belongs in the mammal class of animals. Birds have feathers, no fingers on their wings and no teeth. They also lay eggs. The bat has downy fur, one claw on his wings and a fine set of teeth. And Mrs. Bat does not lay eggs, Her tiny babies arc. born alive.

The bat is classed as a mamal animal because her babies feed on mother's milk. Cats, dogs, cows and horses are also mammal animals because their babies feed on mother’s milk. Mrs. Bat., like all the mammal animals is a wonderful mother. At first, she must leave her helpless babies while she goes out at dusk to feed on insects. But she cradles them safely while she is away, She may put them on a ledge high in a rocky cave or she may hide them in the cozy pocket of a hallow tree, Later they are strong enough to cling onto her fur, Then she takes them on flying carpet trips when she goes out hunting for insects.