VAMPIRE BAT— DITMAKS AND GREENHALL 279 



denizen, not apparent without search of nearby crevices, but possibly 

 common enough, was a member of the hemiptera, of the genus 

 Triatoma. This is a small, reddish, blood-sucking bug, coming under 

 strong suspicion in recent studies of carrying the organism of Chagas 

 fever, a disease produced by a trypanosome in human blood, diag- 

 nosed and discovered by Dr. Emilio Chagas. Here and there, in 

 startling contrast on the "walls, were spiderlike creatures with a 

 sjDread of limbs of 5 inches or more. These arthropods appear to be 

 cave-dwelling members of the Thelyi)h.onidae^ to which the whip 

 scorpion belongs. 



We finally entered a big chamber, the arched ceiling of which 

 appeared to rise about 50 feet. The ceiling looked smooth, yet it was 

 rough enough to provide a hanging foothold for thousands of bats 

 of several kinds. Each species hung in a cluster of its own, the 

 smaller, insectivorous kinds and smaller fruit bats on the sides. Near 

 the dome of the ceiling was a mass of spear-nosed bats {PhyUo- 

 stomus), in a cluster about 15 feet in diameter. These bats have a 

 wing spread of about 20 inches and bodies the size of a rat. Our 

 lights disturbed them and caused a great shuffling of wings and move- 

 ment of innumerable faces. There was considerable chattering from 

 these larger bats, and their teeth showed plainly. 



The side galleries were also full of bats and we inspected these in 

 search of the big carnivorous Phyllostomus which could not be cap- 

 tured in the high chamber. We caught 18 and "fought" them into a 

 mesh cage. All the while we were Avatching for vampires, which may 

 be distinguished by their habit of running along the vertical walls 

 and darting into crevices to hide. In a deep side gallery we found 

 bats of a kind not noted in the large chamber, but again no vampires. 

 After several hours we retraced our way along the subterranean 

 stream until, with a feeling of relief from the oppressive atmosphere, 

 we saw a faint glow that showed we were close to the entrance of 

 the cave. 



After a breathing spell we sought and found the entrance to 

 another cave shown on our chart. The route sloped easily toward a 

 circular chamber fully 100 feet in diameter, though not more than 8 

 feet high. Here were hundreds of bats hanging in clusters, and all 

 of one kind — a medium-sized spear-nosed bat of a fruit-eating species. 

 They were not timid and could be closely approached before they took 

 flight. "\^nien a hand was waved close to them the result was a pour- 

 ing of winged bodies from the ceiling until the air was filled. Again 

 we made an unsuccessful search of the walls for vampires. 



The third cavern had an almost vertical entrance through a well- 

 like shaft. There was not room enough to get down with the nets. 

 We lowered ourselves into the hole, reached a horizontal turn-oil, and 



