THE FLYING FOX, OR ROUSSETTK 



113 



terizes the carnivorous bats as they flit about the air in chase of their insect prey, these fru- 

 givorous species fly in straight lines and to great distances. 



The Kalongs do not seem to care much for dark and retired places of abode ; and pass the 



m 



day, which is their night, suspended from 

 the trunks of large trees, preferring those 

 which belong to the fig genus. On these 

 boughs they hang in vast numbers, and 

 by an inexperienced observer, might read- 

 ily be taken for bunches of large fruits, 

 so closely and quietly do they hang. If 

 disturbed in their repose, they set up a 

 chorus of sharp screams, and flutter about 

 in a state of sad bewilderment, their night- 

 loving eyes being dazzled by the hateful 

 glare of the sun. They are apt to quarrel 

 under such circumstances, and fight for 



theii roosting, or rather their hanging places, much as birds do when retiring to rest for the night. 

 Bats do not seem to be very tempting additions to the cuisine, but man is an omnivorous 



animal, and eats everything, whether animal, vegetable, or mineral, the last-named diet being 



