THE SMOOTH-NOSED BATS. 



81 



pumping on the surface. The presence of fish in 

 ponds that completely dry out and fill again during 

 a shower, was not new to me; but my curiosity was 

 aroused by a number of large creatures, flutter- 

 ing rather clumsily over the water, until they suc- 

 ceeded in catching a fish, when they retired to a 

 neighboring tree and devoured it. A closer investi- 

 gation proved them to be Kalongs." 



The Kalongs arc hunted not so much because of 

 the mischief they do, as for their flesh. In captivity 

 they are easily tamed and kept. In the wild state 

 they are very fastidious, eating only the juiciest of 

 fruits, but when captive they are remarkably unex- 

 acting, eating any fruit that is offered to them and 

 are also fond of meat. 



Unfortunately they do not live long in captivity, 

 in spite of the best of care. They can be given 

 any privilege but the freedom of flying, about. In 



Old Flying Dogs of this genus attain a length of 

 seven inches, their expanse of wing being thirty to 

 thirty-five inches. 



Zbc Smootb^oecb Bats. 



SECOND DIVISION : Gymnorhina. 



This division of the Bat family comprises the 

 Smooth-nosed Bats. The nose is smooth without 

 any excrescence of the skin ; but the inner part of 

 the ear shows one small leaf-like appendage. In 

 some species the ears arc united by their inner mar- 

 gins over the crown of the head, in others this union 

 is wanting. The nostrils in some open above the 

 tip of the muzzle ; in others below it. The family 

 extends all over the globe, with the exception of the 

 Arctic zone. The number of different species be- 



NOCTULE BAT. This sketch accurately portrays the Noctules in the foreground at rest, while one in the distance is flying high in 



search of food. Although nocturnal animals they start out upon their hunts long before the setting of the sun. Bold and fearless they soar high 



and are so active in their flight that the Falcon cannot capture them. 

 ( Vesperugo noctula.) 



consequence, sooner or later, abscesses form on their 

 wings and finally cause their' ,;:ath. 



Egyptian To the group Cynonycteris belongs 



Flying-Dog the Egyptian Flying Dog (Cynonycteris 

 Bat. (Bgyptiacus) . It is spread all over 



Egypt and Nubia and is a regular frequenter of 

 sycamore plantations. Some text-books say that it 

 spends its days in the vaults of the pyramids. This 

 is decidedly false, as it sleeps on trees like all its 

 relatives. 



The specimens I procured died in a short time. 

 Other naturalists have been able to keep these Bats 

 longer, and to train them to be very tame and famil- 

 iar. Zelebor had a couple in Schoenbrunn, which he 

 had taught to come to him instantly when he offered 

 them a date, and which would submit to be stroked 

 and petted by strangers. 



How like a Frog is the crouching Bat in the foreground of the picture. 



longing to this group is exceedingly large. The 

 majority keep together in great swarms, especially 

 during hibernation. One often finds hundreds and 

 even thousands in one building. Many species live 

 in perfect peace with each other and there are prob- 

 ably but very few of solitary habits. They are all 

 sensitive to cold and retire early in autumn into 

 their winter retreats, and do not make a reappear- 

 ance until late in spring. Few fly about before 

 dusk ; the majority come out at the gloaming and 

 remain only during the first hours of the night ; 

 at midnight they rest till the early hours of the 

 morning, when they again resume their activity. 

 Their flight is distinguished by strange zigzags, 

 which make it impossible for birds of prey to catch 

 them. Their attitude during sleep is the usual one ; 

 they run on the ground clumsily, but they climb 



