I 2 6 THE FLYING FOX, OR ROUSSETTE. 



other vegetable substances by which animal life is sustained. Figs and other soft fruits 

 appear to be the principal food of these bats ; and so pertinacious are the animals in 

 their assaults on the crops, whether of field or tree, that they are held in no small dread 

 by the agriculturist. 



It is no easy matter to guard against such foes as these winged devourers, for as the 

 air is an ever open path by which they can proceed on their destructive quest, and the 

 darkness of night shields them from watchful eyes, the ordinary precautions which are 

 taken against marauders would be useless. 



There are but two alternatives for any one who desires to partake of the fruit which 

 he has cherished the one, to cover the whole tree with netting or similar fencing, and 

 the other, to enclose each, separate fruit-cluster with a sufficient protection. As the 

 trees which the Kalongs, as these bats are often called, most affect, are of considerable 

 size, the latter plan is that which is generally pursued. For this purpose, the natives 

 weave from the split branches of the bamboo, certain basket-like armor, which is fast- 

 ened round the fruit as it approaches maturity, and is an effectual guard even against 

 the Kalong's teeth. 



When the trees are small, they are sometimes covered entirely with netting, but not 

 to such good purpose as when each fruit is separately protected. For these bats are 

 so cunning, that they creep under the nets and render nugatory all the precautions 

 which have been taken. One proprietor of a garden at Pernambuco was never able 

 to secure a single fig from his trees, in spite of nets by night and guns by day. The 

 bats are wise animals, and do not meddle with unripe fruit. 



The flight of these creatures is unlike that of the more active insect-feeding Cheir- 

 optera. The stroke of the wings is slow and steady, and instead of the devious course 

 which characterizes the carnivorous bats as they flit about the air in chase of 

 their insect prey, these frugivorous species fly in straight lines and to great dis- 

 tances. 



The Kalongs do not seem to care much for dark and retired places of abode ; and 

 pass the day, which is their night, suspended from the trunks of large trees, preferring 

 those which belong to the fig genus. On these boughs they hang in vast numbers, 

 and, by an inexperienced observer, might readily be taken for bunches of large fruits, 

 so closely and quietly do they hang. If disturbed in their repose, they set up a chorus 

 of sharp screams, and flutter about in a state of sad bewilderment, their night-loving 

 eyes being dazzled by the hateful glare of the sun. They are apt to quarrel under 

 such circumstances, and fight for- their roosting, or rather their hanging places, much 

 as birds do when retiring to rest for the night. 



Bats do not seem to be very tempting additions to the cuisine, but man is an omniv- 

 orous animal, and eats everything, whether animal, vegetable, or mineral, the last- 

 named diet being exemplified by the "stone-butter" of the German miners, and the 

 clay balls of the Indian savage. Some nations there are which feed on their own kind. 

 Many there are which live habitually on the Quadrumana that inhabit their country, 

 and there are some who find a favorite article of diet in the Cheiroptera. 



The species which is most generally eaten is the Edible Kalong (Pteropus Edulis), 

 a bat which is found in great quantities in the island of Timor and other places. It is 

 a very large animal, the expanse of wing rather exceeding five feet, and the length of 

 head and body being about a foot. The eye is a fine brown. The flesh of these bats 

 is said by those who have ventured upon so strange a diet, to be very delicate in flavor, 

 tender in substance, and white in color. 



It is probably to these animals that Bennett refers, in his " Whaling Voyage round 

 the Globe." 



" The only animals that came under our notice at Timor, were bats and foxes. The 

 bats were of that large kind which sailors call Flying Foxes. When our woodcutters 

 commenced their labors in the forest, the first blow of the axe caused a large flock of 

 these creatures to mount in the air, and wing their way to a less precarious retreat. 

 They flew in a body to the distance of more than two hundred yards, then returned as 

 simultaneously to the vicinity of the spot which they had quitted, and ultimately settled 

 in the depths of the jungle. 



