Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1880-04-03
tv. and is an effectual guard even against

ty, and is an effectual guard even against
the kalong's teeth. When the trees are
small they are sometimes covered entirely
with netting, but not to such good pur-
pose as when each fruit is separately pro-
tected. For these bats are SO cunning
that they creep under the nets, and rem
der nugatory all the precautions which
have been taken. One proprietor of
garden at Pernambuco was never able to
secure single fig from his trees, in spite
of net by night and guns by day. The
bats are wise animals, and do not med
die with unripe fruit. The kalongs do
not seem to care much for dark and re-
tired places of abode, and pass the 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
lily be taken for punches of large fruits,
so closely and quietly do they hang. If
disturbed in their repose they set up
chorus of sharp screams and fiutter 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 their roosting, or, rather, their
hanging, places, much as birds do when
retiring to rest for the night.
One member of this genus, the ''edible
kalong'' is considered quite delicacy
by some, and often graces the table of
native epicures on the Island Timor. The
bats here grow to width of six feet; the
flesh is extremely delicate in flavor. and
not unlike turkey meat in color. Where
the bats go in winter is a wonder to some.
but, by q wise provision of nature, they
are enable to exist without food for
long time.
During Information the respiration
ceases almost wholly, and, if it takes
place at all, is SO slight as to defy inyes-
tigation. The air in which these Great
ures pass the winter seems to undergo
no change by the breath, as would be the
case if only one inspiration were made;
and strangest of all, the animal seems
capable Of existing some time in gases
that would be Immediately fatal to it in
the waking state, or even without any
air at all. The temperature, too, sinks
to that of the surrounding atmosphere,
although, as a general fact, the animal
heat of these creatures is rather high. as
is the case with most flying beings,
whether mammals or birds.
| Many curious and valuable trials
/ nave Utcu IuduC uPOn Dc1to WhlAO IL @
state of torpidity, the subjects OF expert
ment being placed in such a manner that
the least bit of respiration made itself
clearly visible by the movements of a
delicate index. The wing was extended
in such manner that the circulation of
the blood was perceptible through its
semi-transparent membrane, and ther-
mometer was arranged SO as to register
the temperature. Very great care is re-
qnisite in conducting these experiments,
because the least excitement, or the least
raising of the temperature, suffices to
rouse the somnolent animal, and to alter
the conditions which are absolutely nee
essary for true hiberpation. A hasty
football, or an accidental tap given to
the table on which the creature rested,
would cause it to make several respira-
tions, and to recover sufficient vitality to
raise the temperature and to consume
some portion of oxygen from the air.
The animal, which passed ten hours IN a
state of perfect somnolence, without pro-
ducing any perceptible effect on the OK
ygen contained in the atmospheric air,
consumed in a single hour more than
four cubic inches of oxygen, when
aroused and lively. ~
Such are some of the characteristics OF
these peculiar creatures that live when
we are dead in sleep, but still have theil
important part in the economy OF nature
IN =. Times.