LEAF-NOSED OR BLOODSUCKING BATS. 



83 



He has also seen it in Hungary and middle Russia 

 and in the Alps as high as the cottages of the shep- 

 herds extend. 



In summer the Barbastelle comes out as soon as 

 the first shadows of evening fall, in fair weather as 

 well as in rain or storm ; it prefers forest-edges and 

 orchards to the houses of villages and confines its 

 hunting chiefly to small Butterflies. Its flight is 

 high and rapid, and full of zigzag movements. 



Xcaf^lRosco or Blooo^Sucfcing Bats. 



THIRD DIVISION: Istiophora. 



All sub-orders of this tribe are distinguished by 

 leaf-like complications of the nose, which may as- 

 sume the most varied shapes. 



but only under certain conditions ; and this ex- 

 plains the conflicting stories that 'are told concern- 

 ing them. We must also take into consideration the 

 fact that it is very difficult to study their habits. It 

 might be well to recount here a few instances of 

 these blood-sucking traits, without ascribing the 

 nocturnal deeds to any one species in particular, as 

 is the practice of most travelers. These stories are 

 very conflicting, and there is one species of Leaf- 

 nosed Bats that I cannot connect positively with 

 any one of these several accounts. 



The Spaniard Azara, who calls this Bat " Morde- 

 dor," which in English means simply "The Biter," 

 tells us among other things the following: "Some- 

 times they bite the combs of sleeping Chickens to 

 suck their blood, and, as a rule the Chickens after- 

 wards die, especially if the wound becomes inflamed, 



'X>\ 



VAMPIRE BAT. Here is presented a strikingly faithful picture of the Vampire with its enormous wings, great ears, lofty nose appendage 



and frightful grin. The Frog-like shape of the body is also clearly shown, as it is fluttering forth at evening time from its sleeping-place in the great 

 forest. Monster as it seems to be, the .Vampire would not harm anything larger than a night insect. It is not a blood-sucker, like so many of its 

 cousins, but is satisfied with the fruits and bugs it finds in its home in northern Brazil and Gu' 



Blood-sucking Bats are distributed over all conti- 

 nents, but are confined to the torrid and temperate 

 zones. Some are found hidden in the depths of great 

 woods, in hollow trees, or among the large leaves of 

 palm-trees or similar plants ; the majority conceal 

 themselves in rocky caverns, ruins and dark vaults 

 or in the roofs of houses. 



Their principal food consists of Butterflies, Bee- 

 tles, Mosquitoes, etc.; and the majority, probably, 

 also have blood-sucking propensities, attacking for 

 this purpose sleeping birds and mammals, including 

 Man. Though a great many facts have come to 

 light pertaining to the blood-sucking habit, this pecul- 

 iar trait is still steeped in mystery. The probabil- 

 ities are that all Leaf-nosed Bats are blood-suckers, 



\ 



(Pkyllostoma spectrum.) 



a thing that nearly always happens. They bite 

 Horses, Donkeys, Mules and Cows in the sides, 

 shoulders or neck, for to these parts they can eas- 

 ily attach themselves. I have been bitten in the 

 toes four times, when sleeping in the open air. The 

 wounds which I received in this way, without any 

 pain, were round or oblong, and about one line in 

 diameter, while their depth was so slight that they 

 barely pierced the skin. They became visible 

 through their raised margins. The blood that flowed 

 from each bite would in my estimation amount to 

 an ounce and a half. In Horses and other animals 

 it might be three ounces, and I believe that their 

 wounds would have to be deeper because of their 

 thick skins." 



