492 THE TKOPICAL WORLD. 



feet and a half from tip to tip, is eaten as a delicacy by the 

 natives. 



The same essential differences which we observe between the 

 monkeys of both hemispheres, are also found to exist between 

 the large bats of the Old and the New World. Not a single 

 fox-bat is to be found in all America, while the Phyllostomidge, 

 distinguished by the orifices of their nostrils being placed in a 

 kind of membranous scutcheon, surmounted by a leaf-like ex- 

 pansion, like the head of a lance, and supposed to extend in an 

 extraordinary degree the sense of smelling, are exclusively con- 

 fined to the western continent. These large bats of which there 

 are many species, some measuring above two feet from wing to 

 wing, are remarkable for their blood-sucking propensities, and 

 under the name of vampires have brought the whole race of 

 the large tropical bats into evil repute. 



The Phyllostomahastatum, a common species on the Amazons, 

 chiefly feeds on vespertine and nocturnal moths, but does also 

 much injury to horses and cattle, and even attacks man when 

 it has an opportunity. The Prince of Neu Wied often saw 

 it by moonlight hovering about his horses while grazing after 

 their day's journey. The animals did not seem incommoded 

 by its attacks, but on the following morning lie generally found 

 them covered with blood from the shoulders to the hoofs. 

 There is still some uncertainty as to the way in which it inflicts 

 its wound, which is a small round hole, the bleeding of which 

 it is very difficult to stop. It can hardly be a bite, as that 

 would awake the sleeper ; it seems most probable that it is 

 either a succession of gentle scratches with the sharp edge of 

 the teeth, gradually wearing away the skin, or a triturating 

 with the point of the tongue till the same effect is produced. 

 After the wound is made the muscular underlip of the vampire, 

 which can be completely folded together in the shape of a 

 sacking-tube, continues to pump forth the blood, the wings of 

 the bat serving at the same time to fan the patient into a 

 deeper slumber. 



Many persons are particularly annoyed by the Phyllostoma, 

 while others are free from their attacks. Mr. Wallace, who 

 was himself twice bitten, once on the top of the great toe, the 

 usual locality, and the other time on the top of the nose, men- 

 tions an old mulatto on the Upper Eio Negro, who was attacked 



