I’m pretty sure it’s page number
        
             
        
        
        
<span>"an enormous ornamental bat", because this is a humorous mental image, and
"as the atmospheric conditions demanded", because this is saying that the atmosphere and weather could make it necessary for someone to look a certain way (that's what is meant by putting on airs) rather than to actually stay dry or warm.</span>
        
                    
             
        
        
        
Topic sentence. That's just restating your thesis.