336 



" The monkey of these islands, a variety, I believe, of 

 Simla Aygula, measures from three to four feet in length, of 

 which the tail constitutes rather more than one-half The 

 body is of an olive colour, the belly bluish-grey. They 

 secrete themselves in the forest, from which they make 

 frequent and destructive inroads on the cane plantations. 



"The Ternate Bat {Vespertilio Vampyris), like the rest of 

 its tribe, is never seen on the wing during the day. It is 

 probably to its uncouth form and noctui'nal flights, that this 

 animal owes the noxious character so generally ascribed to 

 it; for, in the eyes of the vulgar, an hideous aspect, and a 

 disposition to shun the light, are invariably typical of evil. 

 They have, accordingly, borrowed the claws of the Vampyre 

 and its coriaceous wings to decorate the father of all evil; 

 and have endowed it, in return, with a portion of the malign 

 propensities of that personage, which it exerts, when occasion 

 offers in piercing the veins, and sucking the blood of such 

 as unwarily lie down to repose under the canopy of heaven. 

 This article of faith, however, is not universally subscribed 

 to, the better informed Colonists regarding the latter part of 

 it at least, as apocryphal. Any person, indeed, who will give 

 himself the trouble to examine the organization of its mouth, 

 will readily perceive, that, notwithstanding the authority of 

 Linnseus, the Vampyre is furnished with no peculiar ap- 

 paratus for phlebotomy, and that, if it should feel a thirst for 

 blood, it must procure it by the ordinary process of tearino- 

 open a vein with its teeth, an operation, the pain of which 

 the soporific exertions of its wings could hardly assuage, so 

 as to protract the slumber of its victim. The Vampyre 

 grows to a large size. I had a specimen in my possession 

 that measured four feet across the wings. It is known by 

 the name of ' Chauve-Souris des Bananes,' and is believed to 

 subsist on the fruit of the plantain, the ebony, and various 

 others. It is brought occasionally to market as an article 

 of food, and is said to be extremely delicate. 



" The Manau or Lamenting {Trichecus borealis^) is some- 

 times seen prowling along the reefs. There was one caught, 

 not long ago, at the mouth of the Black River, which 



