HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 519 



frequently intoxicate themselves, so as to drop on 

 the ground. One hundred and fifty or two hundred 

 of them may sometimes be seen on the same tree, 

 all hanging with their heads down, and their wings 

 folded; and in this manner they repose during 

 great part of the day. They grow very fat at cer- 

 tain times of the year; and when young, they are 

 eaten by the Indians, and considered as excellent 

 food. 



THE ROUGETTE, OR LESSER TERNATE 



BAT. 



INHABITS the same countries, and is very similar 

 to the last in the shape of its head and body: the 

 hair is of a cinereous brown colour; and on the 

 neck it has a half-collar, of a lively red, mixed with 

 orange. It is about five inches long; and the ex- 

 tent of its wings little more than two feet. 



The Rougettes fly in flocks, and perfectly obscure 

 the air with their numbers. They fly from one 

 island to another, and begin their flight about sun- 

 set. During the day, they lodge in the hollow 

 trunks of trees. They live chiefly in trees; and 

 when about to fly, they beat the air with their 

 wings, before they can disengage themselves from 

 the branch to which they are attached. When shot 

 at or suddenly surprised, several of them fall to the 

 ground ; and in that situation are incapable of 

 resuming their flight, till they climb upon some 

 elevated object. They move awkwardly on the 

 ground, and use their utmost efforts to quit it as 

 soon as possible. Both these kinds bring forth 

 only one young at a time, once a year. 



