64 MR. W. OSBURN ON THE BATS OF JAMAICA.  [Jan. 24, 
alone ; and I found he was right. I do not know at what time they 
again start for their morning meal ; but they return between five and 
six in the grey of the morning. 
** At Mahogany Hall, and many other houses where they are nu- 
merous, the squeaks and rush of the long, narrow volar membranes, 
as half-a-dozen circle round his room, are the first sounds of morning 
that fall on the occupants’ ear. 
«This species is extremely coramon: half a dozen may often be 
found behind pictures in houses not much disturbed by housemaids. 
Chinks in stairs and fittings are very common refuges; and during 
the day they cling to them with such tenacity, they must be much 
injured if a stick is used before they can be got out. I have not yet 
met with it but in houses.” 
2. ARCTIBEUS, sp. 
[See no. 12.—P. L. 8.] 
3. ARCTIBEUS CARPOLEGUS*. 
‘Mahogany Hall Cave, 24th November, 1858. 
«Three ; all females. This large species I found inhabiting this 
cave in great numbers, the beating of their wings making a mur- 
muring sound when disturbed. They flew towards the roof, only 
occasionally coming within reach of the net. They were very un- 
willing to venture out into the light: I did not see one. The floor 
of the cave was strewn here and there with the kernels of bread-nut 
(Brosimum), which had sometimes germinated into young blanched 
trees on the thick deposit of dung.” 
“ Mahogany Hall, 2nd December, 1858. 
«« Returning to the cave to-day, I found it still occupied by great 
numbers of this species—though reduced, to what they were the other 
day. My servant easily caught two with the ring-net. They seemed 
stunned with the shock ; for [took them out of the net quite motion- 
less and with all the muscles rigid, so that I had the opportunity of 
closely examining the position during flight. The back was per- 
fectly flat and on a level with the wings, which were tense, slightly 
arching downwards towards the tips, like a bird’s. Held against the 
light, the branching of the blood-vessels was a very beautiful sight. 
The interfemoral was perfectly flat and tense, kept so by the calcarea 
being stretched at right angles with the leg; the toes stretched wide 
apart. I never before realized how thoroughly fitted for flight these 
creatures are. On placing them in my botanizing-tin, their struggles 
to regain liberty were violent. 
«On bringing them home, one of them escaped, and gave me a 
tedious chase, from his keeping in the apex of the high roof, occa- 
sionally hitching himself up, head downwards. As I cautiously ad- 
vanced the net, he showed his sense of danger by elevating the head 
a little, whilst the little round ears underwent a constant and very 
[* A. perspicillatus (Linn.); Tomes, /.c. p. 64.—P. L. 8.] 
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