The painting “Allegory of Air” by Jan Brueghel the Elder depicts a bat carrying a bird in its mouth. The work, which features more than 60 bird species and mythical creatures, shows that knowledge of bats’ predatory diet was already widespread in the 17th century.
Biologists only found the first evidence of this dietary preference about 20 years ago: in fecal samples of the greater noctule bat (Nyctalus lasiopterus), they discovered feathers. It is now confirmed that these bats, with a wingspan of up to 40 centimeters, snatch small birds out of the air during bird migration. The painting demonstrates that this is not a modern adaptation to environmental changes, but a behavior known for centuries.
Source: www.faz.net
