Kansas City daily journal., 1896-12-09
VAMPIRES MAY BE tanned.
One of the Species Confined in r. Case
for Four Yenrs.

From the New York Herald.
Throngs of curious folks are daily crowd
ing around the show windows of a tailor
shop in Fulton, near Smith street, tc
watch a genuine blood-sucking vampire
which is exhibited there. 1t is confined in
a little wire-grated cage, not more than
two feet in height, and even less in length
and breadth. There it hangs from the top
bars, day after day, apparently lifeless,
except for the slightest movement of the
chest. Now and then it moves its head
or sips from a little jar of water placed
in a corner of the cage sign informs
the curious that the beast has been hang
ing in the cage for at least four years.
The appearance of the vampire does not
bear out the terrible stories told of its
kind 1t looks peaceable and harmless
enough. But, still, it is claimed that many
human lives are taken every year in South
America by these overgrown bats. They
are supposed to live almost wholly on ami
NAL blood, including that of man.
They kill while their victims are asleep.
During the day they hide in the impene-
trable recesses Of the jungle. At night,
however they go out for prey. They fly
almost noiselessly and when they see a
small animal asleep, slowly suck out Its
blood. They generally fasten themselves
to one of the main arteries and kill with
out leaving as much as mark, much less
wound.
The specimen on exhibition. however,
has been tanned. A. W. Haines, the pres
ent owner, got 1t from travelling show
man four years ago. 1t was part of his lit
tie menagerie, which he exhibited in the
South and Central American states. The
Snowman wns stranded in Mexico, but sue
CeeCed in bringing some OF his animals, in
cluding the vampire, to the East where he
placed it in the care of Mr.. Haines. Each
morning he feeds it with three bananas.
which constitute its only food. During the
entire time of its captivity 1t has never
tasted a. drop of blood. But it seems to
thrive, despite this change to vegetarian
Ism; In the day 1t generally sleeps, which
explains its lifeless appearance in the cage.
Still It has no aversion to light. In fact
It rather seems to enjoy 1t, for when the
first ray of the sun touches its cage, it
wriggles its body and stretches its wings
in keen appreciation of the genial warmth.
This done. it drops back into its usual life
less position.
Il hangs all the time, head downward
In appearance it looks like a bird, but
II is an animal. the female bearing live
offspring. The forward and rear limbs are
connected with a fine skin. forming the
wings. which measure from tip to tip fully
four feet.
The head of the animal is finely shaped
and looks much. like that OF a greyhound
or wolf. Its ears are sharp and pointed
one of them being slightly mutilated. The
wings are black in color, the belly IS seal
brown while the back is much lighter,
turning almost into white. The eyes are
small and have an intelligent expression.
The tongue is long and sharp and feels as
II ii were covered with tiny warts. 1t
has six small teeth in the lower jaw and
full row of them in the upper The little
beast is not at ali vicious. but rather play-
ful. and seems TO know its master well.