206 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. V, 



4. Noctilio leporinus (Linn.}. Two specimens, male and 

 female adult. Both have a distinct fulvous line down the middle 

 of the back. 



The cave on Monos Island in the first Boca from which so 

 many of these remarkable bats have been secured, seems now to 

 be deserted by them. The specimens above mentioned were 

 taken from a large cave-like fissure in the Huevos Boca to which 

 the collector was piloted by Mr. Morrison. Their stomachs con- 

 tained the partially digested remains of fish ; confirmation, if 

 confirmation be needed, of the now well-known fish-eating habits 

 of this species. At a recent meeting of the Trinidad Field 

 Naturalists' Club (cf. Journal, Vol. I, p. 204), the president of 

 the Club, H. Caracciolo, Esq., described the manner in which 

 these bats captured their prey, " by throwing it up with their 

 interfemoral membrane. Simultaneously they bend their heads 

 towards their tails to seize the fish as it is thrown from the 

 water." In support of this observation Dr. A. Woodlock said 

 (1. c.), " that early one morning, at Monos, he distinctly saw the 

 bats in this act." Is it not possible that the much lengthened, 

 curved, acute toe-nails of this species are of assistance to it in 

 catching or hooking fish? 



5. Molossus rufus Geoffr. The 25 specimens representing 

 this species show a wide variation in coloration. The specimens 

 representing the extreme color phases were preserved as skins, 

 the others in alcohol. The general coloration varies from deep 

 rich chestnut to blackish seal brown. The ventral surface is a 

 little lighter than the dorsal. Measurements of six adult females 

 and four adult males indicate only a slight sexual difference in 

 size, as follows: Six females, forearm 49.8 (48.3-50.8) mm.; 

 third metacarpal, 49.8 (48.3-50.8); tibia, 18.6 (18.3-18.8); free 

 portion of tail, 25.6 (21.6-27.7). Four males, forearm, 51 (50.8 

 51.3) ; third metacarpal, 50.3 (49.3-50.8) ; tibia, 20.3 (19.8-20.6) ; 

 free portion of tail, 27.9 (26.9-28.3)-. 



This was by far the most common species of bat observed, and 

 was the only one regularly seen at evening coursing for insects 

 about the rest-house clearing. A colony of about thirty bats of 

 this species, with evidently a few of M. obscurus, occupied the 



