308 BA TS 



vampires must be specially adapted for some particular purpose that purpose 

 being blood-letting. 



It is not by any means only in their teeth that these bats are adapted for their 

 mode of sustenance, the structural modification also extending to their internal 

 organs. Thus, whereas in other bats the stomach has the usual subglobular form 

 common to Mammals in general, in the blood-sucking vampires it becomes an 

 elongated organ of a tube-like form ; blood naturally requiring little or no process 

 of digestion before being absorbed into the tissues of the animal by which it has 

 been swallowed. 



The common blood-sucking vampire (Desmodus rufus) is a comparatively small- 

 sized bat, measuring only about three inches in length, and of a reddish brown 

 color above, and usually some shade of yellowish brown beneath. It has no true 

 molar teeth, and likewise no spur on the ankle for the support of the membrane 

 between the legs. The geographical range of this species is large, extending from 

 Central America to Southern Brazil on the east of the continent, and to Chili on 

 the west. 



The smaller blood-sucking vampire (Diphylla ecaudata) serves to connect the 

 common species with the other members of the family, having a small rudimentary 

 upper molar tooth on each side of both jaws, and also a tiny spur on the ankle. It 

 is further distinguished by the middle portion of the membrane between the hind 

 legs being quite undeveloped, as well as by certain features connected with the 

 lower incisor teeth, which are peculiar in having distinct notches on the summits 

 of their crowns. The color of this bat is very similar to that of the common 

 species ; but the size of the animal is slightly less. This smaller vampire, which 

 appears to be confined to Brazil, is stated to be far from common ; and we have 

 not met with any account of its having been caught in the act of blood sucking, 

 although there can be no doubt that this is its constant habit. 



During the daytime these bats repose in caves or hollow trees, whence they 

 issue forth for their nightly blood sucking. It appears that when they have 

 selected a victim for attack, they either settle down on or hover over the part to be 

 operated on ; and then proceed to shave away a thin portion of skin by a razor- 

 like action of the sharp upper incisor teeth, by which the blood is caused to ooze 

 from a number of the small capillary vessels, and is then sucked up by the mouth 

 and swallowed. From their structure, it is probable that blood constitutes their 

 whole diet. 



The fact that certain bats in South America were veritable blood suckers has 

 been long known ; our first information dating from a period soon after the con- 

 quest of that country. Great uncertainty prevailed, however, for a lengthened 

 period as to which particular species of the large family of vampires were the real 

 culprits ; and the question was not finally decided till, during the voyage of the 

 "Beagle," Mr. Darwin had the good fortune to see a desmodus caught in the very 

 act. His account has been quoted over and over again, almost ad nauseam, and we 

 shall refrain from repeating it here ; merely mentioning that the bat in question 

 which was the common blood-sucking vampire was caught by one of the great 

 naturalist's servants actually sucking the blood from the withers of one of the 



