Remarks on Pier opus Edulis, Geoffroy. 33 



huge tree, in the centre of a village, on the skirts of a forest 

 or in the midst of a wide plain, garnished by hundreds of 

 the dangling bodies of these animals. A person stationed 

 near such a spot at the first break of dawn might see the 

 Pteropi come stealing back to their retreat from all quar- 

 ters. From the arrival of the first comer, until the sun is 

 high above the horizon, a scene of incessant wrangling and 

 contention is enacted amongst them, as each endeavours to 

 secure a higher and better place, or to eject a neighbour from 

 too close vicinage. In these struggles the bats hook them- 

 selves along the branches, scrambling about " hand over 

 hand" with some speed, biting each other severely, striking 

 out with the long claw of the thumb, and shrieking and 

 cackling without intermission. Each new arrival is compel- 

 led to fly several times round the tree, being threatened from 

 all points, and when he eventually hooks on, has to go 

 through a series of combats, and be probably ejected two 

 or three times before he makes good his e tenure'. The 

 " alarums — excursions," continue till 8, 9, or 10 a. m. when 

 they get sleepy, and hang side by side in peace, fan- 

 ning themselves with their wings, which in repose they 

 wrap round the head, slumbering with the chin on the breast 

 and the muzzle covered by the membrane of the last pha- 

 langes. The usual noises of a village, in the centre of 

 which they often select their roosting place, do not appear 

 to disturb them, or to cause further stir than a production 

 of two or three heads from within their mantles, which after 

 a look on the houses and people below, and a few rapid 

 tremulous movements of the ears, are again popped into 

 their envelopes. The report of a gun causes dreadful com- 

 motion ; they rise in clouds from the tree, and continue cir- 

 cling round and round, having to fight their battles over 

 again when left to resettle, and to go through the whole 

 scene, shrieking, cackling, and contention of the morning. 

 Their departure for their nightly rambles is unattended by 



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