The Zoologist— May, 1870. 2135 



Australian Fiugivorous Bats, or " Flying Foxes." 



Suddenly, in 1858, an unusual number of flying foxes was observed 

 one clay to be hanging on some trees in the Botanical Gardens in 

 Sydney, New South Wales. Such animals had been but rarely seen 

 in the neighbourhood, though since that year they have often appeared 

 in goodly numbers. They are thickly congregated in some places up 

 the country, especially in the warmer regions towards the north, and 

 it is perhaps only during the prevalence of severe droughts that they 

 migrate towards Sydney. At such periods they find all the wild fruit 

 up country dried up, and burned both by the sun and by bush-fires ; 

 whereas near Sydney they meet with many orchards and gardens 

 where, thanks to human aid, luscious pears and great fat peaches 

 thrive, drought or no drought. 



There are several species of these bals ; but that most common 

 about Sydney is the Pteropus Edwardsii. Its wings measure over 

 three feet, from tip to tip, and it is clothed in a dusky thick fur, with 

 a reddish ring around the throat. It has a curiously benign expression 

 of countenance, though masking a savage disposition, especially when 

 wounded. 



Like most of the aboriginal denizens of Australia, these foxes are 

 nocturnal in their habits. Owing to the great area of the extended 

 wings, even the darkness of night does not render it a difficult matter 

 to hit them. They are brought to the ground with much more ease 

 than a bird would be. Flapping its huge wings as it lies there on its 

 back, in the dark, such game completely puzzles any dog; and should 

 one chance to get its nose in, he is probably saluted by a severe nip 

 from the beast's teeth, while at the same moment he is startled bj 

 sharp scratches on his back and neck from the formidable hooks on 

 the " shoulders " of the wings. If no dog be near, and a sportsman 

 has only wounded one, he lies flapping for a time, until, recovering his 

 presence of mind, he makes oflF, with a shuflBing, undignified waddle, 

 slow but sure, to the nearest tree, which he then ascends somewhat 

 rapidly. 



These huge fox-bats do not appear to be able to lake flight off the 

 ground, but are obliged to commence their aerial tour by dropping 

 from some branch, in the same way that an albatross starts by throwing 

 himself off a cliflF. They are blessed with good appetites, and, 

 though most partial to fruit, they will even condescend to nibble the 



