226 WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 



tlie invader is sure to pay for Lis rashness with the loss 

 of life. 



We will now take a view of the vampire. As there was 

 a free entrance and exit to the vampire in the loft where I 

 slept, I had many a fine opportunity of paying attention to 

 this nocturnal surgeon. He does not always live on blood. 

 When the moon shone bright, and the fruit of the banana- 

 tree was ripe, I could see him approach and eat it. He 

 would also bring into the loft, from the forest, a green round 

 fruit, something like the wild guava, and about the size of a 

 nutmeg. There was something also, in the blossom of the 

 sawarri nut-tree, which was grateful to him ; for on coming 

 up Waratilla creek, in a moonlight night, I saw several 

 vampires fluttering round the top of the sawarri tree, and 

 every now and then the blossoms, which they had broken 

 off fell into the water. They certainly did not drop off 

 naturally, for on examining several of them, they appeared 

 quite fresh and blooming. So I concluded the vampires 

 pulled them from the tree, either to get at the incipient 

 fruit, or to catch the insects which often take up their abode 

 in flowers. 



The vampire, in general, measures about twenty-six inches 

 from wing to wing, extended, though I once killed one which 

 measured thirty-two inches. He frequents old abandoned 

 houses and hollow trees ; and sometimes a cluster of them, 

 may be seen in the forest hanging head downwards, from 

 the branch of a tree. 



Goldsmith seems to have been aware that the va.mpire 

 hangs in clusters ; for in the Deserted Village, speaking of 

 America, he says, — 



"And matted woods, wliere birds forget to sing, 

 But silent bats in drowsy clusters cling." 



The vampire has a curious membrane, which rises from 



