\-2S 



YERTEBRATA. 



BIG-EARED BAT 



. =~ ' .j 



In the island of Java, there are several species known by the name of Roussette ; of one of them a 

 portrait is given in the preceding page. They are very abundant, hanging in black rows or groups 

 during the day, with their heads down and wings folded, on the trees. At evening, they take to 

 their wings, and, guided by unerring instinct, resort to the gardens and plantations, where they 

 seek the delicate fruits, such as melons, oranges, and even cocoa-nuts. In this way they do im- 

 mense damage. So troublesome are thev, that the inhabitants, in some places, are obliged to pro- 

 tect their fruit by loose nets or baskets of split bamboo. 



In South America, there are several species of bat which have acquired the horrid name of 

 Vampire. They live on the blood of animals, and usually suck while their victims arc asleep. 

 They are said to fan the unconscious sufferers with their wings, so as to lull them into more pro- 

 found repose by a soothing coolness. The ears of horses and cattle, the combs and wattles of 

 fowls, and the toes of men, are said to be their favorite points of attack. Nevertheless, the bodies 

 of these creatures do not exceed six inches in length, though their wings stretch out to two 

 feet ; therefore the legends of their dangerous and destructive character are no doubt somewhat 

 exaggerated. 



It is probable that the larger bats, however, have given rise to some of the superstitions which 

 appear in classical literature, as already suggested. The Harpies, which were living creatures, 

 with the facts of women, and the bodies, wings, and claws of birds, at the same time emitting 

 a noisome stench and polluting whatever they touched, might very easily have been formed b} 

 popular imagination out of the more formidable species which no doubt once inhabited the south- 

 ern portions of Europe, as well as the contiguous countries of Asia and Africa. The still more 

 terrible myth of a demon which sucked the blood of persons during the night, and which acquired, 

 the name of Vampire, is very likely to have sprung from the stealthy performances of bats resem- 

 bling those of South America. By a similar process, no doubt, the Dragons, Basilisk*, Wiverns, 

 and Griffins, which figure in the legends of the Middle Ages, were created from the crocodiles, ser- 

 pents, and other animals which the Crusaders saw for the first time in their visits to the East. In. 



