BATS. 



43 



extinct; the temperature of the animal is much lo'nerfcd, and he 

 bfioomes lean and exhausted, so that he awakens in the spring in 

 a state of great weakness and emaciation, although in the autumn 

 he may have been very fat. 



The Vampyre Bat is from five inches to a foot in length, 

 and has membranous wings extending from four to six feet. It 

 inhabits Africa and Asia, but is found most abundantly in the 

 East Indian islands. It is very gregarious, and is found in im- 

 mense flocks. Five hundred have been counted hanging on a 

 single tree. It does not confine itself to animal food, but subsists 

 also upon fruits and vegetables, and is the cause of gi'eat injury 

 to the produce of the countries it inhabits. It has been supposed 

 to suck the blood of persons lying asleep, by making an orifice in 

 some exposed vein, which it does so easily as not to , awaken the 

 sleeper, to the soundness of whose slumbers it contributes by fan- 

 ning him gently with its wings. Hence this animal has received 

 the name Vampyre, and is thought to have given origin to the 

 ancient fable of the Harpies. It is said to be excellent food. 



Th* Bptctra But 



