JAVANESE VAMPIRE. 47 



preserve a profound silence ; but if they are disturbed, or 

 a contention arises among them, they emit sharp piercing 

 shrieks, while their awkward attempts to extricate them- 

 selves, when oppressed by the light of the sun, exhibit 

 a ludicrous spectacle. In consequence of the sharp- 

 ness of their claws, their hold is so firm, that they cannot 

 easily loosen themselves without the assistance of their 

 wings ; and if suddenly killed in their hanging position 

 during the day, they continue suspended after death. 

 Soon after sunset they gradually awaken, quit their hold, 

 and commence their nocturnal flight in quest of food. 

 By an unerring instinct, they direct their course to the 

 forests, villages, and plantations, attacking and devour- 

 ing indiscriminately every kind of fruit; thus occasioning 

 incalculable mischief. So great, indeed, is the devas- 

 tation they inflict upon the orchards and gardens, that 

 the European residents find it necessary to secure the 

 fruits by different artifices. The more dehcate sorts, 

 such as mangos, jamboos, lausas, &c., as they approach 

 to maturity, are ingeniously secured by means of a loose 

 net or basket, skilfully constructed of split bamboo : 

 without these and other precautions, little or no fruit 

 would escape these depredators. 



The flight of these animals is also curious. There are 

 few situations in the lower parts of Java where this night 

 wanderer is not constantly observed. As soon as the 

 light of the sun has retired, one animal is seen to follow 

 another at small but irregular distances, and this " long- 

 drawn file" continues uninterrupted until darkness ob- 

 structs the view. Their flight is slow and steady, pur- 

 sued in a right line, and capable of long continuance. 

 The colonists and inhabitants occasionally form shooting 

 parties for the destruction of this animal, during moon- 

 light nights, which in this climate are uncommonly se- 

 rene : he is watched in his descent to the fruit trees, and a 

 <lischarge of small shot readily brings him to the ground. * 



The size has been already mentioned. The general 

 colour is blackish, with the upper part of the neck yel- 



* Horsf. Zool. Research L's. 



