126 



There are several species of bats, some of wHicIi are 

 very large. One species is known by the name of fly- 

 ing fox from the resemblance it bears to this animal; 

 color reddish brown. 



The vampire bat is the largest species, and is an in- 

 habitant of South America, It is known to live prin- 

 cipally upon the blood of animals, which it gets in the 

 same manner as the mosquito. Taking its victim by 

 night it selects some choice part, all the while fan- 

 ning the prey with its wings, it bites a small hole 

 through which it obtains its meal. They sometimes 

 attack men in this way, which is very annoying. 



Although the number of animals seen in a ramble 

 over hills and dales are somewhat limited, yet there are 

 hundreds of kinds distributed over America alone, with 

 the Eastern Hemisphere and Australia included, many 

 of which are curious and wonderful, especially those of 

 the great island, where some rare specimens exist; but 

 as^this little volume is intended to describe home ob- 

 jects exclusively, all these will be omitted in it. 



Besides the few animals already described, there are 

 many other objects of interest to be noticed without 

 much searching for. Some reptiles are noticeable, such 

 as the turtle, snake, lizard, salamander and others. The 

 turtles are well known, two species of which are more 

 frequently seen than others — the wood or box turtle 

 and the snapping turtle. All of these reptiles have a 

 hard long covering which is ornam^ented in pretty col- 

 ors and markings. This shell or house serves for a 

 complete protection to them, they being" able to draw 

 their head and feet within it. The snapping turtle is 

 a large species weighing many pounds; the shell is 



