52 LECTURE II. 



is pretended that it has the power of inserting the 

 tip of its tongue so dexterously into the vein of a 

 sleeping person, as to draw away a considerable 

 quantity of blood, without waking the patient ; 

 all the while fanning with its wings, and agitating 

 the air, in those hot climates, in so pleasing a 

 manner, as to fling the sufferer into a still sounder 

 sleep. It is therefore said to be unsafe for any 

 person either to sleep in the open air, in regions 

 frequented by these animals, or to sleep in a 

 chamber with an open window. The cattle in 

 many parts of South America are said to be often 

 destroyed by these bats. The tongue of the Van> 

 pyre bat, when accurately examined, is found to 

 be covered with very numerous, small, sharp 

 prickles ; but, except these, as the Count de Buffon 

 observes, there seems to be nothing very par- 

 ticular in its structure, which can enable the 

 animal to exert this singular power of bleeding 

 without causing pain. It is, however, on account 

 of this quality that Linnxus has denominated the 

 species Vespertilio Vampyrus ; but as he has 

 given no explanation of the name, it is probable 

 that the reason may not be generally known. A 

 Vampyre is an imaginary monster, or spirit, sup- 

 posed to suck the blood of sleeping persons. It 



