270 CONTENT. 



of the suspended Bat dislodges the ripe fruit, and it 

 falls to the ground, splitting with the shock. On 

 picking it up we see that it has been just bitten, not 

 gnawed as by the rodent incisors of a mouse, but 

 nibbled in a ragged manner. Though the Vampyres 

 often eat the fruit on the tree in this manner, de- 

 taching minute morsels, and again and again returning 

 for more, it appears that not seldom they succeed 

 in tearing out a large piece, which they carry away : 

 for fragments of naseberry of considerable size, 

 partly eaten by a Bat, are frequently found at the 

 distance of half a mile from the nearest naseberry 

 tree, dropped on the high road. Tlie delicate scented 

 Rose-apple {Eugenia jamhos) is also a favourite 

 fruit with these winged quadrupeds ; and fragments 

 of this are dropped about in the same way. * 



* As well as I can determine by comparison of specimens with the 

 published description of Dr. Horsfield ( Ann. & Mag. "N. H. iii. 238.) 

 this seems to be Artiheus Jamaicensis of Leach. The description of 

 the latter zoologist is far too vague for the discrimination of species. 

 I will however subjoin admeasurements and descriptions of this, and 

 of three other species of the same genus, all of which have similar 

 habits. 



The Small Naseberry Bat. Artiheus Jamaicensis, Leach. Central 

 lobe of nose-leaf (see PI. VI. fig. 3.) lanceolate, broadest near the 

 bottom, thence tapering to a point ; furnished at the base with an in- 

 distinct footstalk : lobe surrounding the nostril slightly sigmoid in 

 outline : external lobe free, scolloped with about 5 regular crenations. 

 Edge of upper lip nearly smooth ; that of lower lip minutely notched. 

 Tragus three-toothed. Forehead round, prominent. 



Upper parts ashy-brown, slightly inclined to purplish ; head paler, 

 having a hoary appearance; a short dash of white on each shoulder. 

 Wings black; fingers pale. Under parts hoary grey, darkening a 

 little posteriorly. Nose-leaf dusky or reddish brown. Ears yellow- 

 ish olive. Irides pale brown. Inner edge of interfemoral membrane 

 fringed with free hair. A few fine bristles among the downy fur on 

 the cheeks. Toes of hind feet about equal in length. 



