EPAULETTED FRUIT BAT 23 



tail is very short, almost rudimentary, and concealed in 

 the fur. The length of the head and body is 6^ inches 

 (male), 5 J inches (female). This bat ranges from the 

 eastern portion of the Cape Province through Natal and 

 Zululand to the Equator. It w^as procured at Ngoye 

 Forest in Zululand by C. H. B. Grant, who says that 

 they do not fly until two hours after dusk, and that 

 during winter they feed upon the berries of the syringa 

 tree. Their usual food is figs, peaches, and any of the 

 softer wild fruits. 



Epomophonis crypturus is a smaller species, closely 

 resembling the foregoing in most respects. 



Common Fruit Bat. Bousettus collaris. 



Lips not swollen. The general colour above is brown ; 

 paler below. The hair of the neck is long, and in the 

 male of a yellow colour. There are no white tufts, as in 

 the preceding species. Length of the head and body 

 5^ inches, tail ^ inch. This bat is found throughout 

 . South Africa, and is common in Capetown and at Knysna, 

 at which latter place Mr. C. H. B. Grant found it 

 plentiful in a cave on the ''heads." 



It devours ripe fruit, and, according to Mr. W. L. 

 Sclater, is especially fond of loquats. 



Mr. Layard asserts that it will devour insects when no 

 fruit is available. 



Yellow Fruit Bat. Bousettus stramineus. 



This species can be easily distinguished from the fore- 

 going by its pale yellow colour (almost lemon yellow) 

 It ranges pretty well all over the African continent, but 

 South African records are few. An example in the 

 Pretoria Zoo, from Durban, lived almost exclusively 



