A SMALL COLLECTION OF BATS FROM PANAMA. 



By Gerrit S. Miller, Jr., 



Curator, Division of Mammals, United States National Museum. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Mr. August Busck, wliile collecting insects for the Smithsonian 

 Biological Survey of Panama during April and May, 1911, obtained 

 29 bats representing 11 species. Three of these have not hitherto 

 been described, and a fourth is exceedingly rare in collections. More 

 than half of the specimens were taken near Alhajuela, on the Chili- 

 brillo River, in some extensive caves, a localit}'^ so little known and 

 so interesting that I have asked Mr. Busck to prepare for publication 

 the following rather detailed account of his visit. 



THE CHILIBRILLO BAT CAVE. 



The large cave in wliich these bats were collected is formed in a 

 broad limestone area, wliich crosses the Chagres River between 

 Alliajuela and San Juan, Panama. The cave is made by a subterra- 

 nean stream, which empties into the Chilibrillo River about 7 to 8 

 miles south of Alhajuela. Neither the cave nor the Chilibrillo River 

 (wliich is a tributary to the Cliilibri River) is shown on the late Ameri- 

 can map made by the Canal Commission, but was found indicated on 

 an old French map. The region is iminhabited for many square 

 miles and is rarely visited, even by the natives from the nearest 

 settlements along the Chagres, none of whom knew about the cave. 

 There are no roads or tracks leading to the cave, but it may be found 

 by going due south from Alhajuela until reacliing the Cliilibrillo, 

 which at this point runs nearly east to west, with the next turn at 

 right angles to south. By following this river down its course for 2 

 or 3 miles the outlet of the subterranean stream is found in a little 

 brook on the left, the first tributary met with on that side. At tliis 

 spot the course of the Cliilibrillo is southwest with the next turn to the 

 left. 



The river bed of the Cliilibrillo is solid limestone, and walldng during 

 the dry season is reasonably easy, wading shoe top to breast deep in 



Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol. 42-No. 1882. 



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