Gemral Literature. 217 



valuable donations have already been received. The zoological 

 part (filling two commodious rooms,) is systematically arranged 

 with reference to the modern discoveries and improvements, by 

 Mr. William Swainson, F.L.S., who has superintended the 

 whole. The collection of Zoophytes are uncommonly fine, and 

 are arranged after the admirable system of Lamark. 



The gallery of pictures and sculpture has likewise been en- 

 riched by a fine series of casts from the Phygalean marbles, 

 deposited there by John Foster, jun., Esq., well known as the 

 companion of Mr. Cockerell, while prosecuting those interesting 

 researches in Greece which led to their discovery. An academy 

 of painting is immediately to be established. 



11. Observations on Bats. — The individuals composing the 

 genus Vespertilio or bat of Linnaeus, (which, by modern authors, 

 have very properly been subdivided into several distinct genera,) 

 are well known to derive their sustenance from animal juices ; but 

 the observations of Mr. Swainson on these animals, during his 

 travels in Brazil, prove that several species are equally fond of 

 vegetable food. He informs us, that while residing at a plan- 

 tation in the province of Pernambuco, he was particularly struck 

 by the great numbers of these anim^als that were constantly 

 seen at twilight flying with a rapid and heedless course among 

 a group of fig-trees that were in the garden attached to the 

 house ; on observing it to his host, he was assured that they 

 were considered the greatest pest to the grounds as destroying 

 the fruit the moment it reached any maturity, and in fact such 

 trees as were in the fullest bearing were covered with nets. 

 Anxious to ascertain this fact, Mr. Swainson spread a small 

 quantity of birdlime on these nets, and by this means procured 

 several specimens, which, on dissection, were found to contain 

 part of the undigested fruit. He subsequently found many 

 others, wliich, by entangling themselves in the meshes thus 

 prepared, were easily captured in the morning. Mr. Swainson 

 believes that the formidable Vespertilio Vampyrus, Linn., and 

 other larger bats of Guiana, and the adjacent provinces, are un- 

 known in the southern parts of Brazil, No. of lat. 8.12'. 



