144 CLU ADRUPEDS. 



The bat couples and brings forth in fummer, from two to five. The 

 female has two nipples, /orvrard on the brea!l. She makes no neft 

 for her young, but is content with the firflholeihe meets, \Vhere flicking 

 herfelf by her hooks, ihe permits her young to hang at the nipple, for 

 the firftor fecond day. When fiie finds a neceiTity of liirring abroad, flie 

 fticks her little ones to the wail as fhe before hung herfelf; where they 

 cling till her return. 



The bat has ftrong pefroral mufcles to afilfl its fligiit, and weak It^gs, 

 (wherein it agrees with birds). And is never feen to walk, or rather to 

 pulh itfelf forward with its hind legs, but in extreme necefiity. The 

 toes of the fore legs, or, if we may ufe the exprellion, its very long 

 fingers, extend the web like membrane between them ; which being ex- 

 tremely thin, ferves to lift the little body into the air : where, by uncealing 

 percuflion, the animal continues, and dircds its flight ; bat is fatigued 

 in lefs than an hour. 



Aii^ong its varieties, are the long-eared bat, which is very fmall ; the 

 horfe-Hioe bat, with an odd protuberance round its upper lip, in form of 

 a horfe-flioe ; the rhinoceros bar, with a horn growing from the nofe. 



But the race of bats in the Eaft and Weft-Indies, are truly formidable; 

 and in fuch numbers, that, when they fly, they obfcure the fetting fun. 



The largeft we certainly know of, is the roufette, or great bat of Ma- 

 dagafcar; near four feet broad, wings extended ; one foot long, from the 

 nofe to the tail. Is fox-coloured; its head and nofe alfo refe.nble that 

 animal ; and fome have called it the Flying-fox : it differs in the nuinber 

 of its teeth; and in having a claw on the fore foot, which is wanting in 

 ours. Inhabits Madagafear, the coafts of Africa and Malabar. When 

 they repofe, they (tick to the tops of the talleft: trees, with their heads 

 downward. When in motion, like clouds, they darken the air, day and 

 night, deftroying the ripe fruits of the country, and fometimes letding 

 on animals, or man: they devour fruits, flefli, infefts, and drink the juice 

 of the palm tree : their horrid din is heard at night in the forefts, at two 

 miles diflance; at the approach of day, they retire. Some have obferved> 

 that the ancients feem to have taken their harpies from thefe fierce and 

 voracious creatures, as they agree to many parts of the deicription> 

 being equally deformed, greedy, uncleanly, and cruel. 



But ftill more mifchievous is the American Vampyre; Itis than 

 the former; more deformed, and more numerous. Has a horn like the 

 rhinoceros bat, and extremely long ears. Thefe enter towns and cit.es,. 

 and, after fun-fee, cover the ftrccts like a canopy. *' Th^ry are," fays 



3 Ulloa, 



