ALLEN: MAMMALS OF THE WEST INDIES. 185 



than the larger-skulled races from the other islands. That the West 

 Indian Otopterus should be well distributed in the Bahamas yet wholly 

 absent from the Florida peninsula and Gulf States directly west, is 

 evidence that these islands have been connected recently with the 

 Greater Antilles. If the theory of distribution through the agency of 

 wind and chance is to obtain, here is an excellent opportunity for it 

 to operate, since the prevailing trade wind would waft such wanderers 

 to the east coast of Florida, where the climate and other conditions 

 would be in part similar. 



The subfamily Phyllonycterinae, so far as known, is peculiar to 

 the Greater Antilles. Of its three genera, Reithronycteris and Phyl- 

 lonycteris are apparently confined to Jamaica and Cuba respectively. 

 Each is represented by a single species, and both are considered rare. 

 These two genera are closely related, and seem to have become differ- 

 entiated on the two islands from a common stock, doubtless of Central 

 American origin. The third genus, Erophylla, has not yet been dis- 

 covered in Jamaica, but is represented by slightly differing local 

 races in Cuba, San Domingo, Porto Rico, and the Bahaman archi- 

 pelago. Should it eventually be found in Jamaica as well, its dis- 

 tribution in the Antilles would correspond closely with that of 

 Chilonycteris, Otopterus, and Chilonatalus. From the fact that 

 Erophylla is unknown from the mainland, it may be assumed that, 

 like the two other genera of the subfamily, it either reached these 

 islands by land tongues from Central America, where it has since 

 become extinct, or it has arisen as an endemic genus. 



Further investigation will probably show the range of the genus 

 Chilonatalus to be practically coextensive in the West Indies with 

 that of Otopterus. It is now known from Old Providence Island, 

 Jamaica, Cuba, and the Bahamas (Watling's Island and Great Abaco). 

 Its presence is to be expected in San Domingo and probably Porto 

 Rico. It has no known representative on the mainland, but is closest 

 related to Natalus. The latter genus, though recorded at present 

 from but two of the West Indies (Dominica and San Domingo) is 

 likely to be found on other of the islands, particularly Jamaica and 

 the more southern Lesser Antilles. The Natalus of San Domingo 

 is larger than the continental races from which it is undoubtedly 

 derived. That of Dominica, however, does not seem different from 

 that of the neighboring mainland of South America. In view of the 

 apparent absence of the genus Natalus from Cuba, it may be suggested 

 that it is represented on that island by Nyctiellus, which in external 

 characters is considered the least specialized of the Natalidae, although 

 the skull and teeth have become considerablv modified. 



