478 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



ternal ear, common to almoft all the Bat kind : The up- 

 per part of the body is of an am colour, the belly whi- 



tifh. They vary in fize : The largeft are about three 



inches and a half long from the nofe to the end of the 

 tail ; the extent of the wings is above fourteen. 



This kind is very common in France, and is the laft of 

 feven diftincT: fpecies defcribed by M. Buffbn as natives 

 of that climate. — Thefe are all equally harmlefs, diminu- 

 tive, and obfcure ; fhunning the light, and endeavouring 

 to conceal themfelves in holes and caverns. They never 

 come out, but during the night, in queft of food •, and 



return at day-break to their dreary habitations. But 



under the influence of a warmer climate, the Bat aflumes 

 a very different character, and poffefTes powers which 

 render it formidable to mankind, and a fcourge to thofe 

 countries where it is found. Some of them are as large 

 as a well-grown pullet ; and fo numerous, that they fre- 

 quently darken the air as they fly. They are fond of 

 blood, and will attack men whom they find afleep ; they 

 are faid to introduce their (harp-pointed tongues into a 

 vein, fucking the blood till they are fatiated, without 

 awaking the fufFerer. 



The ancients had an imperfect knowledge of thefe 

 animals ; and from their aptnefs to convert every object, 

 of terror into an imaginary being, it is probable they had 

 conceived the idea of Harpies, from the cruelty, voracity, 

 and difgufting deformity of thefe creatures. 



Thefe monfters inhabit Madagafcar, and all the iflands 

 of the Indian Ocean : They have likewife been found in 

 New Holland, the Friendly Ifles, the New Hebrides, and 

 New Caledonia. 



