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can be no doubt that they destroy great numbers of nocturnal 

 insects, such as moths and beetles, as they invariably appear im- 

 mediately after sunset, and may be observed at an altitude just 

 above the upper foliage of the trees, where they remain flying to 

 and fro, evidently in pursuit of winged creatures which have issued 

 from their hiding-places at the same hour. 



In Ceylon, where toddy is extracted upon an extensive scale 

 from the groves of cocoa-nut plantations, the chatties, or earthen- 

 ware pots, which are suspended to receive the flowing sap, are 

 carefully protected from the flying foxes with covers of plaited 

 palm-leaves, otherwise these creatures would not leave a drop. 



They are not vicious, as they never attempt to bite when 

 wounded. 



The bat tribe generally are most serviceable as destroyers of 

 insects. I remember when, upon the White Nile, our diahbeeah 

 was swarming with large cockroaches, that were far beyond our 

 powers of extermination. These horrible insects are well known 

 to be more than usually active during night. Bats were our 

 welcome allies. There was a small variety which entered the 

 open windows, and amused themselves till daylight in hunting our 

 enemies. No American Indian could have been more particular in 

 the arrangement of the scalps of his slain. In the morning, the 

 divan (or sofa, against the walls of the cabin) was ornamented 

 with neatly made piles, about 2| or 3 inches diameter, composed 

 of the horny legs and wing-cases of large cockroaches. I imagine 

 that each bat kept its separate pile, which must have contained 

 the indigestible and rejected portions of about 15 or 20 of the 

 insects. 



There are numerous animals, more or less interesting, which 

 hardly belong to the classification of wild beasts. There are the 

 wild asses of the desert, most beautiful and agile creatures, quite 

 unlike the humble donkey of our civilised surroundings. In these 

 we see the reverse of evolution. 



The wild ass is widely distributed both in Africa and Asia, and 

 it exhibits its connection in various colourings and affinities with 

 the quaggas and zebras. 



The true wild ass is an animal of the desert. It is intensely 

 shy and difficult of approach, and far exceeds the horses of the 

 country in swiftness and endurance. The only method which is 

 successful for capturing these animals is to pursue them with fast 

 dromedaries when females are accompanied by young ones. A 

 chase by three or four well-mounted Arabs will, after a hunt at 

 full speed of several hours, separate the tired little ones from the 



