PIT-NOSE BAT. 147 



It remains to explain the reason of the term 

 Vampyre, by which tlie above large species has 

 been distinguished. 



A Vampyre is an imaginary monster, supposed 

 to suck the blood of sleeping persons. It also 

 alludes to one of the most absurd superstitions 

 that ever entered into the human mind. About 

 the year 1 75% an idea arose among the vulgar in 

 some parts of Poland and Hungary, that certain 

 bodies when interred, became possessed of the 

 power of obsorbing blood from those who were so 

 unfortunate as to pass over or stand near their 

 graves , it was, therefore, supposed necessary to 

 disinter such bodies and wound them with a 

 sword, by which means this pernicious power was 

 supposed to be put a stop to, and the blood they 

 had unjustly gained was evacuated. Astonishing 

 as this folly may appear, it is yet more astonishing 

 that a great many treatises were written on the 

 subject, and that some considerable time elapsed 

 before the superstition was completely destroyed. 



PIT-NOSE BAT. 



Vespertilio Speoris. Schreb. suppL 

 Fespertilio caudatus y fossula front ali transversa. 

 Tailed Bat, with a transverse frontal cavity. 



This species, from Mr. Schreber's representa- 

 tion, appears to be about the size of the common 

 Bat, which it also resembles in its general aspect. 



