JAVANESE VAMPIRE. 45 



taking any nourishment ; until at last, in full daylight, 

 it fell upon a plate of chopped meat, which it had hi- 

 therto neglected, and devoured the whole. When a 

 piece was too large, it would fix it to the ground 

 with its wrist, and cut it with its side teeth ; but if 

 these teeth got engaged with the meat, or any morsel 

 adhered to them, it would not use its feet to get 

 rid of the embarrassment, but would seek for some pro- 

 jecting spot, against which it would rub its muzzle. 

 Cleanliness appeared a very peculiar characteristic of this 

 animal : with its hinder feet it would rub all the parts 

 of its body ; and cleanse its nails, fingers, and the mem- 

 brane forming its wings, very dexterously with its 

 mouth : the motions of its head indicated quickness and 

 vivacity. It seems, however, notwithstanding its hearty 

 meal of chopped meat, to have died soon after. The 

 Barbastel bat, although found both in France and Ger- 

 many is unknown in England. 



The total length is about tvv^o inches, and . its extent 

 nearly ten. The fur of the upper part of the body is 

 dusky brown ; the under part ash-coloured. The ears 

 are remarkably broad and long, so that the lower part of 

 the inner sides touch each other, and nearly conceal the 

 face, when viewed in front : the nose is short, the 

 cheeks full, and the end of the nose is flattened. 



The Javanese Vabipire. 



Pteropus Javaiiicus, Horsf. 



It would be as useless, as it is perhaps impossible, to 

 trace which was the particular species of bat termed by 

 Linnaeus and his followers the Vampire, since it appears 

 to have been applied, with little discrimination, to all 

 those very large species termed by the French Rousettes, 

 which inhabit the hot latitudes of India and America, 

 and derive much of their nourishment from sucking 

 the blood of other animals. The explanation of the 

 word Vampire, however, is interesting, and has thus been 

 given by Dr. Shaw. — '' A vampire," observes the doctor. 



