168 BATS 



ica, most unjustly called the Great Vampire, 1 but not really 

 belonging to the genus of bloodsuckers. Mr. H. W. Bates, 

 the "Naturalist on the Amazon," lived for a time where this 

 species was quite abundant, and of it he wrote in his book 

 as follows: 



"Nothing in animal physiognomy can be more hideous 

 than the countenance of this creature when viewed from the 

 front; the large, leathery ears standing out from the sides 

 and top of the head; the erect, spear-shaped appendage 

 [nose-leaf] on the tip of the nose, the grin, and the glisten- 

 ing black eye, all combining to make up a figure that reminds 

 one of some mocking imp in a fable. [The very savage- 

 looking canine teeth might well have been mentioned, also.] 

 No wonder that imaginative people have inferred diabolical 

 instincts on the part of so ugly an animal. The Vampire, 

 however, is the most harmless of all bats." Mr. Bates opened 

 the stomachs of a number of specimens, and found that "they 

 had been feeding chiefly on fruits," and wild fruits, at that, 

 obtained by honest hunting in the depths of the forest. 



Moral: Never make an affidavit on the food habits of 

 wild animals without first examining the stomachs of several 

 specimens. 



THE FAMILY OF FREE-TAILED BATS 



Emballonuridae 



The bats belonging to this Family have no nose-leaves, 

 and the tail is partly free from the membrane between the 

 legs., either rising from its upper surface, or projecting be- 



1 Vam-py'rus spec'trum. 



