126 ORDER III. 



gerous. They seldom appear to attack large ani- 

 mals ; and never man, unless while he is sleeping, 

 and then they invariably inflict a small wound in the 

 great toe, without causing him to awake, and suck 

 the blood in such a way, that when the Bat with- 

 draws, the wound remains open, and may still bleed 

 freely. The celebrated Azara was bitten no less than 

 four times, though probably not by this, but by 

 one of the next genus. Mr. Waterton witnessed 

 its attack upon a planter, who was his companion. 



COMMON VAMPYRE BAT. 



PLATE II. Fig. 2. 

 Vampyrus spectrum^ LEACH. 



Is the Andira guaqu of Brazil ; the size of a mag- 

 pie; reddish-brown above, more yellowish beneath. 

 Mr. "Waterton killed one that measured thirty-two 

 inches across the wings. This species is the great 

 blood-sucker, and a still greater destroyer of fruit, 

 although the principal part of its food consists of 

 insects. It inhabits the deep woods, and also ruined 

 plantations in Brazil and Guiana, and, perhaps, the 

 north coast of South America, but we have not 

 found or heard of it north of the isthmus of Darien. 

 There are two or three other and smaller species, 

 according to Spix, in Brazil. 



