Bats remind us of the vampire, a native of South America, concerning whose blood-sucking properties so much discussion has been from time to time raised. The vampire bat was very common at Ega; it is the largest of all the South American species. Of this bat Mr. Bates writes:-
'Nothing in animal physiognomy can be more hideous than the countenance of this creature when viewed from the front; the large leathery ears standing out from the sides and top of the head, the erect spear-shaped appendage on the tip of the nose, the grin, and glistening black eye, all combining to make up a figure that reminds one of some mocking imp of fable. No wonder that imaginative people have inferred diabolical instincts on the part of so ugly an animal. The vampire, however, is the most harmless of all bats, and its inoffensive character is well known to residents on the banks of the Amazons.'
That much fable has attached itself to the history of this curious creature we are perfectly convinced, and that its bloodsucking peculiarities have been grossly exaggerated we must allow. When this bat has been said to perform the operation of drawing blood, ' by inserting its aculeated tongue into the vein of a sleeping person with so much dexterity as not to be felt, at the same time fanning the air with its large wings, and thus producing a sensation so delightfully cool that the sleep is rendered still more profound,' it is clear that the mythical element exists to a great extent in the narratives; but our author's assertion that 'the vampire is the most harmless of all bats,' does not tally with the statements of other naturalists of considerable note. Mr. Wallace says he saw the effects of the vampires' operations on a young horse, and that the first morning after its arrival the poor animal presented a most pitiable appearance, large streams of clotted blood running down from several wounds on its back and sides:-
'The appearance,' Mr. Wallace adds, ' was however, I dare say, worse than the reality, as the bats have the skill to bleed without giving pain, and it is quite possible the horse, like a patient under the influence of chloroform, may have known nothing of the matter. The danger is in the attacks being repeated every night, till the loss of blood becomes serious. To prevent this, red peppers are usually rubbed on the parts wounded and on all likely places; and this will partly check the sanguinivorous appetite of the bats, but not entirely, as in spite of this application the poor animal was again bitten the next night in fresh places.'
Both Mr. Darwin and Mr. Waterton, if we remember rightly, have borne similar testimony in favour of the opinion that the vampire does suck blood. A servant of the former gentleman, when near Coquimbo, in Chili, observed something attached to the withers of one of his horses which was restless, and on putting his hand upon the place he secured a vampire bat. Mr. Waterton, however, could not induce the vampires to bite him, notwithstanding the now veteran naturalist slept many months in an open loft which vampires frequented; but an Indian boy who slept near him had his toes often ' tapped,' while fowls were destroyed and even an unfortunate donkey was much persecuted, looking, as Mr. Waterton says, ' like misery steeped in vinegar.'
From "Gleanings from the Natural History of the Tropics," The Quarterly review, Volume 18 (1865).
Pictures of vampires
Pictures of Dracula
Can a blonde be a vampire?
Enticing vampires
Devil worshippers
Hungary and the vampire lore
Vampires of Eastern Europe
What is a vamp?
The Crusades and the Crusaders
Elizabeth Bathory, the Blood Countess
Finding Elisabeth Bathory
Le Vampire
Vampire - Les vampires existent toujours
Sin eaters and sin eating
