THE GREAT BAT THE YAMPYRE. 253 



caves, old buildings, and hollow trees, where it re- 

 mains during winter in a state of torpidity. Some of 

 them cover themselves close with their wings, and 

 suspend themselves by their hind feet, and others 

 stick fast to old walls. 



All the bats known in Europe are perfectly inoffen- 

 sive; but in the tropical climates, they not only grow 

 to a large size, but are of a more formidable nature. 

 I shall give you a concise description of two of the 

 most remarkable species. 



THE GREAT DAT OF TERNATE AND MADAGASCAR 



is about a foot long, and four feet in breadth, when its 

 wings are expanded. It has large canine teeth, and 

 the tongue pointed : its nose is sharp, and its ears 

 large and naked. It has five toes on the hind feet 

 armed with strong hooked claws: it has no tail, and 

 its general colour is a dusky brown. 



These formidable -creatures are extremely voraci- 

 ous, and sometimes assemble in such prodigious flocks 

 as to darken the air; devouring indiscriminately 

 every kind both of vegetable and animal food that 

 lies in their way. Butt'.m imagines that the ancients 

 borrowed from these creatures, their ideas of the har- 

 pies, and it nfust be acknowledged that they corre- 

 spond almost exactly with the description given by 

 the poets of those fabulous monsters; but that the an- 

 cients were acquainted with these animals or with the 

 countries where they are found, is extremely pro- 

 blematical. Like the fabulous harpies, their figure is 

 uncouth, and their disposition fierce und voracious. A 

 hundred or two of tlu-a; may sometimes be seen hang- 

 ing on r, tree, with their heads downward -and theit 

 wings folded, in which manner they repose during 

 the day; but in the u'.ght they make a horrible noise 

 in the forests. When young they are eaten by tlu: 

 inhabitants of the countries where ihey are found, 

 and are esteemed excellent food. 



THE VAMPYUE, OR -SPECTRE BAT OF S, AMERICA 



is a most formidable and dangerous creature, and, al- 

 though not remarkable either for size or strength, is 

 the common pest of men and animals in those parts 







