CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 3. CHEIROPTERA, 



129 



a rude age, the imagination needs little encouragement to convert objects .so really curious and 

 strange as those we have been describing, into hideous monsters, endowed with supernatural 

 powers. It is the province of education and enlightened reason to reduce these horrid creations 

 of fancy to the comparatively simple and innocent dimensions of truth. 



The Cheiroptera may be divided into four families : First, the Pteropodes, or Roussettes, some- 

 times called Fox-bats, from the shape of the head; second, the Phyllostomides, or Vampires ; 

 third, the Rhinolophides, or Horse-shoe Bats j and finally the Ves_pertilionides, or Common Bats of 

 Europe and North America. 



THE ROUSSETTES, OR PTEROPODES. 



The zoological name of the bats of the family Pteropus is derived from the Greek pteron, a wing, 

 aud pous, a foot. They are entirely confined to the warmer parts of the Eastern Hemisphere. They 

 are most abundant in the islands of the Eastern Archipelago, whence the greater part of the species 

 are derived ; but they occur also on the main-land of Asia, in the tropical islands of the Pacific, 

 in Africa, and even in Australia. They are the largest of the bats, the kalong of Java measuring 



FOX, OR KOUSSE1TK BATS. 



no less than five feet in extent of wing, nnd the body two in length. They arc fmgivorous in their 

 habits, and do great damage in gardens and plantations; but in confinement they have been 

 known to eat the flesh of birds, so that it is possible they may vary their diet in a similar manner 

 in a state of nature. They have a disagreeable odor, described by some observers as musky, by 

 others as "mildewy." The flesh of some species is, however, eaten by the inhabitants of the 

 places where they occur. It is probable that the bat which figures among the articles of food for- 

 bidden to the Jews, belonged to this group. Like the other bats, they are nocturnal animals, and 

 pass the day suspended by the hind-feet from the branches of trees or the crevices of rocks ; but 

 some are known also to fly at noonday. 



Genus ROUSSETTE: Pteropus:— Of this there are several species, .generally destitute of tails. 

 The Kalong, or Edible Roussette, P. edulis, is so called because it is- frequently used as food, 

 being hunted for that purpose, and tasting, it is said, like rabbit. It is the largest of the bat 

 family, the body being of the size of a small dog. Its color is nearly black. The museum of 

 Leyden has possessed several specimens, sent from Java, Sumatra, and Borneo. These chiefly 



Vol. I.— 17 



