Bat blunders

The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing. It's my guess that when industrialist Henry Ford (he of Model T) wrote these words he was probably thinking about learning one's own slip-ups. But can also other people's mistakes, and greater their errors, greater, perhaps, knowledge reap. So hang on tight, for are going back 200 years to a loft in an abandoned house (in what modern-day Guyana), once-fine dwelling now long into process repossession by Nature, where Charles Waterton, greatest naturalists his time, got huge vampire bat muddle! In immensely popular book Wanderings South America (London: J Mawman), first published 1825, Waterton this ramshackle building banks Mibiri Creek (some 20 km up Demerara River Georgetown), once generals governors had caroused, tenanted vampire. And some tenants lived slung hammock, giving him many fine opportunity paying attention [them]. Other bits text seemingly indicate referring common Desmodus rotundus (Figure 1) rather than white-winged Diaemus youngi. fact to? Indeed, Waterton's reveal really no idea. For instance, describes how vampires feed blood as well bananas thought were wild guavas, they fond “something” flowers sawarri nut tree (Caryocar nuciferum). bats obligate blood-feeders. Clearly, poor getting himself mixed with kind fruit bat… JA Racero Casarrubia/Flickr.com (CC BY-ND 2.0) …and maybe something else. wingspan 13–15 inches (around 35 cm), but says generally measured 26 (66 cm) wing tip tip. One killed even notched 32 (over 81 cm)! giant fruit-eating Artibeus lituratus (which roosts trees old buildings) has around 18–20.5 (46–52 cm). Certainly, inventory Smithsonian National Museum Natural History (Washington, DC) records at latter size. Don Wilson, emeritus curator mammals museum told me animal “was cataloged field Handley, colleague deceased, very careful observer. Relying solely memories having handled numerous individuals A field, I think 521 mm, actual measurement listed record, not unreasonable”. Not all, it's still enough. American match great false Vampyrum spectrum, comes whopping 27.5–39 (70–99 it usually trees, lofts, bat. Rather, preys bats, rodents, birds. It does, however, have pronounced nose-leaf, described curious membrane, rises nose, gives [the vampire] singular appearance. Yet hardly singular; there loads leaf-nosed – including same D rotundus. Did conflate all three species? 1891 edition Wanderings, things then get downright weird plate showing sleeping men being approached flying “vampire” Halloween silhouettes. engraver little enlightened descriptions since animals already sleepers (suddenly shrunk right size) feeding victims’ chests thighs, prefer toes ankles. just before wanted be fed upon bat, so could say been! He would dangle leg out hammock tempt attack. never bitten should alerted misidentifications, you go. true writing managed Guyanese sugar plantation, connecting directly slavery: experience led denounce entire concept least point pages book. While dismiss complicated history, opened eyes thousands wonders natural history (including certain young fellow called Darwin) especially right! error, may enriched more Guyana, always assuming facts straight! day, Creek, Nature will eventually repossess us all; nice that, after someone might our mistakes. Adrian Burton