The Republican journal., 1870-03-03
SOMETHING ABOUT BATS.

Bats are found in nearly all parts Of the
world excepting the extreme cold regions
they are most abundant within the tropics
but at least one species lives in Oregon there
are species in Asia, Africa, North and South
America, Europe and Australia, and several
insulated islands contain varieties which are
found in no other place.
As to food, the whole order may be divided
into two groups-the larger including about
two hundred different kinds, which all live
upon insects; the smaller including only
forty or fifty species, which devour various
tropical fruits these trugiyorous bats belong
to the genus Pteropus, and all inhabit the In
dian Archipelago and tropical Africa they
are also called Rousettes
The ''kalong," already mentioned, is one
of those tlugiverous species, and has a body
equal to that Of a cat, supported by wings
which are five feet from tip to tip when out
stretched; the kalongs are grcgarious, too,
and at night descend upon the fig orchards
in troops, generally following each other in
single file, like crows; having reached the
trees, they distribute themselves and quickly
devour the ripper fruit. They even crawl be-
meath the wicker cases by means of which
the agriculturist attempts to protect his crops,
and can only be wholly excluded by the care
ful enclosure of each cluster within separ-
ate netting or basket.
In return for their nocturnal depredations,
the natives, and even some of the civilized
residents of those islands, hunt the '.flvine
foNes,' and by seeking their diurnal lodging
place in the dark woods, their roost, it may
well be called, since they remain there mo-
tionless, unless to quarrel for u better place
they are able to kill hundreds of them, for
the bats see very poorly in the daytime, and
wheel round and round in tlocks without at
tempting to escape. The latest of the slain
are then selected for eating, and there is no
reason why they should not be very delicate
and palatable food, nor is their appearance
really so repelling, as that of oysters or lob
SterS
The rapidity with which they eat is aston
ishng; and | cannot better illustrate this and
other peculiarties of the bats than by describ-
ing the doings of one which | tanned this au-
tumn. 1t was a small species, but as is often
the case, bore a very long name-Vespertilio
noyeabracensis The body was three inches
long, including a delicate little tail, which
was generally curled forward out of sight; its
outspread wings measured about ten inches :;
but while at rest the upper arm was brought
close to the body, the forearm in like manner,
and the four long fingers drawn closely to-
gether, with the last joints Of the little and
ring fingers again bent up, so as to contract
the whole wing into the smallest possible
compass. In this condition it was found
hanging upon curtain wire by means of the
sharp and curved claws upon the hinder limbs.
1t had evidently entered the room during the
night, and, being either stnpetied by the glare
of the morning sun, or benumbed by the cold,
was very quiet and peaceable for a few mo-
ments, but suddenly seemed to wake up, be-
gan to nestle and poke its little head about in
my hand, and ended its investigations by nip
ping the end ofmy little finger pretty severe
ly. 1t now seemed to become enraged it spit
like a cat, snapped its little Jaws most Wei
ously, made sharp clicking sound with its
throat, thrust its head in every direction,
pushed with its hind legs, and pulled with its
clawed thumb, until becoming alarmed for
the integrity Of both my skin and my temper,
l let it go; it spread its wings and flew to
the ceiling, then circled round and round
and finally, trying in vain to secure resting
place upon the side Of the wall, it came heav
lily to the floor, where it violently repealed
every advance upon my part A days quie
neglect in box left itquite hungry, howev
er, and it greedily seized fly from the pon
OF a long pin-then a second but when triet
to stroke its little head, it dropped the fly ant
snapped at me. After several trials, finding
no harm result, it would allow me to pat i
while eating, and after few days to hold it
and would even take flies alive from my fin
gers but its partial blindness in the day tim,
made this rather an uncomfortable way O
feeding it, for, especially when very hungry
it bit eagerly and very hard and often mis-
took the tip Of my finger for the fly; it coul'
not draw blood from an ordinary skin, bu
seemed often upon the point of doing SO. 1t
capacity for flies seemed nearly unlimited
and it often swallowed thirty or forty il
quick succession, disregarding all hygieni
rules of masticaton, and opening its gap
ping mouth for more ere the previous on
was well down its throat Upon one day
disposed Of sixty flies. Hours at Home fc
February.