326 THE ODYSSEY OF AN ANIMAL COLLECTOR 
money, and is presumably necessary for the maintenance of the 
Colony. Nothing looks worse than mutilated primitive forest with 
a disorderly mass of second growth taking its place, and it was 
not unnatural that within easy reach of the goldfields there was 
little bird-life of note. After a short stay, I decided to go lower 
down the Potaro River to Tumatumari, a village that was formerly 
the headquarters for the small alluvial gold workings in the sur- 
rounding country, but had now fallen into decline. 
Large mango trees abandoned by the former inhabitants were 
numerous and were fruiting profusely when I arrived, thus pro- 
viding a feeding center for hundreds of parrots of several species. 
Any approach to these trees set the whole assembly in alarm, 
causing a most incredible hubbub as the screeching mass took the 
air. 
Fortunately, there was a large vacant house belonging to the 
British Guiana Goldfields, which was put at my disposal. It over- 
looked the picturesque Potaro River just below the Tumatumari 
Rapids, the scene of several fatal accidents. 
The jungle came to the very outskirts of what remained of the 
village and the wild character of the place was brought home to 
me the very first night when lying on my camp bed. As usual I 
was sleeping under a mosquito net, but my feet evidently became 
uncovered and pressed against the net at the bottom of the bed. I 
awoke partly conscious that all was not well with one of my big 
toes, and drawing up my legs, I felt for my electric torch, which 
was always at hand under my pillow. On inspection I found that 
my toe had been punctured, and realized that a vampire bat had 
been sucking my blood. After that I was more careful to keep my 
feet covered, and as an extra precaution attached some thick cloth 
to the foot end of the mosquito net. 
There is a popular legend in Europe to the effect that any 
victim of the vampire bat will himself become a human vampire, 
issuing forth at night to suck the blood of sleeping persons. How- 
ever, | am glad to be able to say that, so far, the episode in ques- 
tion has brought about no marked change in my feeding habits! 
There are a number of species of bats belonging to different 
genera in tropical South America which are grouped together to 
form what are popularly known as vampire bats. Great confusion 
