Bryan Allen, age 12, of Indianapolis, Ind., for his question:

WHY DO BATS FLY ONLY AT NIGHT?

Approach a bat and you are immediately impressed with his rather unlovely appearance. He has huge, pointed ears and eyes so small that they are all but lost in the tiny foxlike face. Most bats face the world with a pug nose and undershot jaw--not exactly beauty contest features, to say the least. But bats are fascinating in countless ways, and many naturalists have been captivated by their mysterious charms.

Bats live a frantic, wildly demanding life and need lots of food to keep up the pace. Because they feed mostly on insects, they hunt mainly from dusk till dawn when the insects are most active. Some bats scoop up darting insects in the membrane that stretches between their hind legs, cupping it like a pouch. This method lets them reach in and eat their catch while in full flight.