426 Zoological Society. 



legs and depressed, looked like the broad tail of a frying bird, and 

 appeared to guide the motion in like manner. 



" While taking some drawings of one, as it hung from the immense 

 hind-feet, I was amused to see how it would thrust its nose into 

 every part of the volar membranes, apparently searching for para- 

 sites (of which several were briskly crawling among the hair) ; and 

 now and then it brought down one hind-foot, and scratched itself 

 with exactly the motion of a monkey ; and once I observed, after 

 scratching its breast, it delivered something into its mouth. The 

 flexibility of the ankle-joint was extreme, so that the foot could reach 

 with ease any part of the body. 



" I presented to one a large cockroach, which he seized greedily 

 and munched up, moving the jaws only vertically. The eating was 

 attended with a loud and very harsh crunching of the teeth — not pro- 

 duced by crushing the horny parts of the insect, for it was equally 

 perceptible when munching a bit of soft flesh. The jaws moved 

 rapidly, but yet the mastication was a long operation, for it appeared 

 to me to be performed almost wholly by the canines. As the insect was 

 progressively masticated, portions were allowed to fall into the cheek- 

 pouches (the one being pretty well filled before the other was used), 

 which when full hung down on each side of the lower jaw, to the 

 depth of three or four lines, like distended bags, displaying a warted 

 surface. When the whole of one cockroach had been masticated, 

 and deposited in the pouches, it would take another, which was 

 gradually disposed of in the same receptacles ; then, after a few 

 moments' intermission, by a contortion of the jaw, aided by the mo- 

 tion of the muscles of the pouch, a portion was returned to the mouth, 

 and again masticated. This was repeated till all was swallowed, and 

 the pouches appeared empty and contracted up out of sight. The 

 whole process was much like rumination. Small portions of the 

 muscle of a bird, which were presented to one, he chewed up and 

 deposited in the pouches ; but after being regurgitated, and a second 

 time masticated, they were expelled instead of being swallowed. 

 The process of eating seemed an awkward one ; it was a rapid suc- 

 cession of choppings with the long canines, through which the tongue 

 was thrust about so nimbly that it appeared a wonder it was not 

 impaled perpetually. 



" In order to rest, like other bats they crawled upwards and back- 

 wards by means of the hind-feet, seeking the greatest elevation they 

 could attain which afforded a hold for the claws. They were social, 

 though both were males ; usually hanging side by side, or sometimes 

 with the leg of one crossing the leg of the other, or even one upon 

 the other. Sometimes they brought their faces together, and licked 

 each other's open mouths in a singular manner ; and this appeared 

 grateful to them. I did not hear either of them click or squeak. 



" Pressed by numerous engagements, I was prevented from again 

 visiting the tree until about ten days after. I then went thither in 

 the afternoon, wishing to see the bats emerge for the night ; but 

 though I waited till after sunset, not one appeared. The next morn- 



