The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-11-05
VAMPIRES MAY BE TRAINED.
One OF Them Confined in IL Cage For Four
Years

One of Them Confined in IL Cage For Four
Years.
Throngs of curious folks are daily
crowding around the show windows of /,
tailor shop in Fulton, near Smith street,
to watch II genuine blood. sucking YAM.
pire which is exhibited there. 1t is con-
fined in Il little wire grated cage not more
than two feet in heighth and even less III
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 IL little jar of water. \
sign informs the curious that the beast
has been hanging in the cage for the last
four years.
The appearance of the vampire does not
bear out the terrible stories told of its
kind. II looks peaceful and harmless
enough. But, still, it is claimed that
many human lives are taken every year
i'll South America by these oiergrown
bats They are supposed to live almost
wholly on animal blood, including that
of man.
They kill while their victims are asleep.
During the day they hide in the impcne-
trab!e recesses. of. the jungle. At night,
however, they 90 out for prey. They fly
almost noiselessly and when they see Il
small animal asleep, slowly suck out its
blood. They generally fasten themselva
to one of the main arteries and kill with
out. leaving Il mark, much less wound.
The specimen on exhibition, however,
has been tanned. y. w Haines, the pres
ent owner, got it from II travelling show
man four years ago. 1t was part OF his
little menagcrie, which he exhibited in
the South and Central American States
The Snowman was stranded in Mexico
but succeeded in bringing some of his
animals, including the maopire to the
East, where he placed it in the care of Mr.
llaines. Each morning he feeds it with
three bananas, which constitute its only
food, But it seems to thrive, despite this
change to vegetation. In the day it gen.
orally sleeps, which explains its lifeless
appearance.in the cage. Still. it has no
aversion to light. 1t fact, it rather seems
to enjoy it, for when the first lays Of the
sun touches its cage it wrigglcs It's body
and stretches its wings in keen apprccia-
ton of the genial warmth. This done it
drops back into its usual liielesS position
1t hangs all the time head downwartls
In appearance it looks like IL bird, but it
is an animal, the female bearing live OF
spring. The forward and rear limbs are
connected with fine skin, forming the
wings, which measure from tip to tip
fully four feet.
The head Of thc'animal is finely shaped,
and looks much like that of the grey
| hound or wolf. Its ears are sharp and
pointed one of them being slightly mutt
lated. 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 intelli-
| gent expression. The tongue is long and
| sharp, and feels rs if 1t 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 mt all vi
cious, but rather playful, and seems to
| know its master wel.-New York Herald.