THE CAROLINA BAT , 



167 



they inflicted, without my feeling them at the time, were 

 circular, or rather elliptical." 



The late Mr. Darwin was fortunate enough to be able 

 not only conclusively to prove the truth of this blood- 

 sucking habit, but also to capture an individual in the 

 act, and to make sure exactly what species it was. It is 

 that known as " Desmodus," a form which ranges from 

 Mexico to Chili. 



FIG. 41. 



THE VAMPIRE 



Speaking of horses, Mr. Darwin tells us (" Voyage of 

 H.M.S. Beagle," vol. i. p. 22) that this animal 



" is often the cause of much trouble by biting horses on 

 their withers. The injury is generally not so much owing 

 to the loss of blood as the inflammation which the pres- 

 sure of the saddle afterwards produces. The whole circum- 

 stance has lately been doubted in England ; I was there- 

 fore fortunate in being present when one was actually 

 caught on a horse's back. We were bivouacking late one 

 evening near Coquimbo, in Chili, when my servant, 

 noticing that one of the horses was very restive, went 

 to see what was the matter, and fancying he could 

 distinguish something, suddenly put his hand on the 



