VAMPIRE. 



the world, some of them feedmg upon fruit and vegetable substances, but 

 the greater number bemg insect-eaters, and catching their prey on the wing with 

 great adroitness. They are nocturnal in their habits ; hiding in some dark retreat 

 dui'ing the day, and being only seen on the wing at night. If a poor Bat should 

 attempt to fly about in the daytime, its eyes are qvute dazzled by the light, and it 

 is unable to direct its movements. 



The Vampire Bat is a native of South America, and is celebrated for its habits 

 of attacking sleeping men and animals and sucking their blood dm'ing sleep. 

 These animals are very common in their own country, and arc very annoying 

 to travellers. 



When they direct their attacks against mankind, the Vampires almost invariably 

 select the foot as their point of operation, and their blood-loving propensities 

 are the dread of both natives and Europeans. AVith singular audacity, the 

 bats even creep into human habitations, and seek out the exposed feet of 

 any sleeping inhabitant avIio has incautiously neglected to draw a coverlet over his 

 limbs. 



When they attack quadrupeds, they generally tix themselves on the shoulders 

 and flanks of the animal, and inflict wounds suiflciently severe to cause damage 

 unless properly attended to. It is quite a common occurrence that when the 

 cattle are brought from the pastm'cs wherein they have passed the night, their 

 shoulders and flanks are covered Avith blood from the bites of these blood-loving 

 bats. 



It was at one time supposed that the Vampuc drew so large a quantity of 

 blood from the sleeper, tliat it entirely exhausted the supply of vital fluid, and 

 caused him to sink unconsciously into death. This notion arose from the curious 

 fact that the creature is so wonderfulh" adroit in its proceedings, that it is able to 

 bite through the skin of its prey, and to abstract the blood without awakening 

 him from his slumbers. But it is now known that no great harm is done by the 

 Bat, excepting a little weakness from loss of blood. 



