THE FLYING FOX, OR ROUSSETTE. 
113 
terizes the carnivorous bats as they flit abont the air in chase of their insect prey, these fra- 
givorous species fly in straight lines and to great distances. 
The Kalongs do not seem to care much for dark and retired places of abode ; and pass the 
THE EDIBLE K ALONG . — Pteropus edvlis. 
day, which is their night, suspended from 
the trunks of large trees, preferring those 
which belong to the fig genus. On these 
boughs they hang in vast numbers, and 
by an inexperienced observer, might read- 
ily be taken for bunches of large fruits, 
so closely and quietly do they hang. If 
disturbed in their repose, they set up a 
chorus of sharp screams, and flutter about 
in a state of sad bewilderment, their night- 
loving eyes being dazzled by the hateful 
glare of the sun. They are apt to quarrel 
under such circumstances, and fight for 
theii roosting, or rather their hanging places, much as birds do when retiring to rest for the night. 
Bats do not seem to be very tempting additions to the cuisine , but man is an omnivorous 
animal, and eats everything, whether animal, vegetable, or mineral, the last-named diet being 
