BLOOD-SUCKING BATS. 



119 



is specially and largely developed in the tropical zone is 

 that of the Chiroptera or bats ; which becomes suddenly 

 mnch less plentiful when we pass into the temperate 

 regions, and still more rare towards the colder parts of 

 it, although a few species appear to reach the Arctic 

 circle. The characteristics of the tropical bats are their 

 great numbers and variety, their large size, and their 

 peculiar forms or habits. In the East those which most 

 attract the traveller's attention are the great fruit- bats, 

 or flying-foxes as they are sometimes called, from the 

 rusty colour of the coarse fur and the fox-like shape of 

 the head. These creatures may sometimes be seen in 

 immense flocks which take hours to pass by, and they 

 often devastate the fruit plantations of the natives. 

 They are often five feet across the expanded wings, with 

 the body of a proportionate size ; and when resting in 

 the daytime on dead trees, hanging head downwards, the 

 branches look as if covered with some monster fruits. 

 The descendants of the Portuguese in the East use them 

 for food, but all the native inhabitants reject them. 



In South America there is a group of bats which 

 are sure to attract attention. These are the vampyres, 

 several of which are blood-sucking species, which abound 

 in most parts of tropical America and are especially 

 plentiful in the Amazon Valley. Their carnivorous 

 propensities were once discredited, but are too well 

 authenticated. Horses and cattle are often bitten, and 

 are found in the morning covered with blood ; and 

 repeated attacks weaken and ultimately destroy them. 

 Some persons are especially subject to the attacks of 

 these bats ; and as native huts are never sufiiciently close 

 to keep them out, these unfortunate individuals are 



