Creator Gould's Mammals of Australia (1845-1863)

Date 1863

The Black Flying-fox (Pteropus alecto) is the largest species of flying-fox in Australia, found in the northern parts of the continent. Called the Funerary Vampire 'Iteropus funereus' by Gold...Gould wrote of explorer Ludwig Leichhardt's encounter with the Black flying fox (near Mataranka, NT) on the 1844-46 expedition from Brisbane across northern Australia: 'So numerous did they become on the latter part of the journey that "twelve were brought for luncheon, thirty more were procured during the afternoon, and at least fifty were left wounded and hanging to the trees; upon another occasion they were seen clustering in such numbers that branches of the low trees drooped with their weight so near the ground, that they could eaily be killed with cudgels. In the neighbourhood of the river Roper, myriads were suspended in thick clusters on the highest trees, in the most shady and rather moist parts of the valley; they started as the travellers passed, and the flapping of their large membranous wings pruduced a sound like a hail storm." Doctor Leichardt went the next day with two of his party to the spot where they had seen the greatest nmber, and while he was examining the neighbouring trees his companions shot sixty-seven, of which fifty-five were brought to the camp and served for dinner, breakfast and luncheon, each of the party receiving eight.'

Source: Smithsonian Library