1865.] MR. W. OSBURN ON THE BATS OF JAMAICA, 67 
estate. Whilst sitting at the window of the overseer’s house, to- 
wards dusk, his attention was attracted by a flapping among the 
fronds of a cocoa-nut close by. A large white Owl (Striv) was 
struggling with something amongst the bunches of nuts, and, after 
many efforts, dragged out a rat, with which he slowly made off.” 
4. Lasrurus RUFuS*. 
Expanse 9 inches; length from nose to insertion of tail 13; tail 13 
longer than the body, membrane extending to the tip; length of 
forefinger 23 ; ear from base to tip, front, ;; thigh 4, nearly; leg, 
to calcaneum, 1 ; calcaneum 5%. 
On the muzzle a ridged lobe, with a projecting point, between 
nostrils ; lower lip large, and below this a thin projecting lamina ; 
ears large, round, coming down below rictus, enclosing eyes, which 
are very minute; hair fringing edge of upper lip, very long, and 
increasing as it approaches corner of mouth, so as to resemble a 
moustache ; head round ; reproductive organ conspicuous. A male. 
Colour a beautiful dormouse-yellow, paler below; fur soft and 
long ; volar membranes black, much wrinkled. Length of intestine 
D>? 
(and stomach) 3 inches; tongue attached by under surface. 
“ Mahogany Hall Cave, 24th November, 1858. 
** Whilst in the cave catching the large Artibeus, occasionally a 
little Bat would fly among them, so nimble I could not catch it. It 
was only on going out that I discovered them clustering like bees 
in a little recess with a high domed roof. They seemed driven here 
by the larger Bats. It is a remarkable characteristic of Bats that 
thus large numbers of different species should inhabit different caves 
or parts of caves. This little Bat flew out with great facility, par- 
ties of five or six scudding along the steep face of the rock without, 
as if seeking for a hiding-place. It was here I shot one, 2nd Decem- 
ber 1858. Returned to the cave for fresh specimens, though about 
two o'clock not a single individual of this species was there.” 
“Oxford Cave, Manchester, 22nd February, 1859. 
** Seven males, four females. The difference in the colour of the 
fur is so great, varying from brownish grey to yellowish chestnut, 
that I give measurements of an individual of each shade :— 
** Brown. Expanse 9 inches; muzzle to base of tail 13; tail 13; 
forearm 12; carpus, to tip, 23. ' 
“Chestnut. Expanse 82; muzzle to base of tail 14; tail 13; 
forearm 1,°,; carpus, to tip, 33. 
** Brown. First digit 1$; leg and foot 12. 
“Chestnut. First digit 1£; leg and foot 13. 
6—6 _— 
“ Dental formula:—M. =, C. = is 7=38. 
[* Mr. Tomes ((. e. p. 65) refers this species to Natalus stramineus, Gray, of the 
continent of America; but Dr. Peters informs me that, though it belongs to the 
same genus, it is clearly distinct specifically, differing not only in its smaller size, 
but also in its dentition. It should therefore stand as Natalus lepidus, being the 
Nyctiellus lepidus of Gervais.—P. L. 8.] ; 
