ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 
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numbers during the rains in Calcutta, feeding at twilight 
and over night on the fruit of Terminalia catappa , 
the large tree which yields the so-called almond so often 
served on European dining-tables. But unfortunately its 
nocturnal feasts are not always distinguished for their 
sobriety, as the Blue Ribbon Army is still unknown to 
it. Mr. F. Day states that the flying-foxes “ often pass 
the night drinking the toddy from the chatties in the cocoa- 
nut trees, which results either in their returning home in 
the early morning in a state of extreme and riotous in¬ 
toxication, or in being found the next day at the foot of the 
trees sleeping off the effects of their midnight debauch/’ 
It congregates on its favourite trees, in dense lines along 
the branches, holding on by the claws of its hind feet, 
the bat hanging downwards, although the head is turned 
slightly upwards, the chin resting against the chest. The 
bat also has the power of enveloping itself in its wing- 
membrane when it sleeps, and in it also, it protects its 
young. The nipples are on the chest, although some bats 
have nipples also on the lower portion of the belly. The 
fruit-eating Bats form a very small proportion of the 
Order, as the majority feed on insects alone, but some, 
such as a few of the Vampire bats of South America, 
suck the blood of larger mammals and even attack 
man himself. A very common bat in Calcutta, with great 
ears connected across the forehead, and a large erect nose- 
leaf, apparently manifests a habit similar to the true vam¬ 
pires. It is known as the lyre bat, and has received the 
Latin name of Megaderma lyra. It measures about three 
and a half inches in length. On one occasion in Calcutta, 
when the well-known naturalist, Edward Blyth, was try¬ 
ing to capture one of these bats which he had followed 
T 
