
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, December 16, 1994                   TAG: 9412190030
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: NANCY GLEINER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

ENOUGH TO DRIVE YOU BATTY

Twenty-some years ago in the town of Indiana, Pa., Gwynn Hall was making holiday cookies with her two sons. Three-year-old Justin, growing increasingly frustrated, was searching the pile of cookie cutters, saying he was looking for the ``Christmas bat.''

His mother explained that they made bat cookies for Halloween, not for Christmas, and that there was no such thing as a Christmas bat.

Young Justin was insistent, so Hall asked him to show her a picture of one. When he returned, picture in hand, his mother shook her head and smiled. Justin's Christmas bat was a picture of an angel.

Now, every fall, the Hall family searches for new ``bat'' gifts to give to Justin for Christmas and his birthday (the same day), the American Bat Conservation Society tells us.

This year, shopping for bat fans has been simplified. The ``Absolutely Bats'' catalog includes everything from the technical (bat detectors and night vision devices) to the tantalizing (Vampfire Hot Sauce).

For the gardeners on your list, the Burpee Co. has designed the ``Night Fragrance Bat Garden Seed Collection'' to attract the heroes of the night. For those with a sweet tooth, try a gift of ``Angel Bat Bites,'' molded in the shape of the ``cute and adorable American big brown bat.'' Music lovers will screech over ``Night Life II,'' an audio tape of music composed from bat echolocation sounds, including ``Bach For Bats.''

Order by writing to P.O. Box 1393, Rockville, Md. 20849 or by calling (301) 309-6610. Proceeds of many items benefit the American Bat Conservation Society.

by CNB