1865.] MR. W. OSBURN ON THE BATS OF JAMAICA, 83 
bers, flying about and swarming on the walls and roof like bees. 
They differ from some other Bats in settling on the walls low down, 
notwithstanding the alarm of the lights; and in this they are like M. 
redmanii, which I saw do the same thing at the Oxford Cave. Not 
one seemed to make an attempt to escape, which was the more re- 
markable as there was no hole for retreat in the cave, and it was 
nearly dark when I left it. I infer, therefore, that this species is 
very strictly nocturnal. I had a considerable number knocked down 
in various parts; but it appeared the only species inhabiting this 
cave. ‘The sexes were pretty equal, and the number of young very 
great. No female, that I saw, had more than one young one. 
picked from the floor bread-nut kernels and numbers of munched 
berries of clammy cherry (Cordia collococca). I found the captives 
brought home were seventeen, besides a few young. 
«Those in the best condition I placed in a gauze-covered box. 
They bit fiercely, and not ineffectually, at my fingers, were ex- 
tremely active, and ran about the box with great agility. One or two 
managed to get out, when I found they could run on the floor and 
rise to the wing with the greatest ease. After one or two turns 
round the room, they hitched themselves, raised the head a little, 
and moved the nose-leaf and ears alternately, in the eager inquiring 
way of M. redmanii and Artibeus carpolegus. All night I was dis- 
turbed with their violent efforts to escape. I congratulated myself 
I had taken the precaution to line the bottom with a good bed of 
silk cotton, for otherwise the inflammation produced on the wrists 
by their efforts renders them unfit for preservation. The loud bird- 
like chirps and squeaks were incessant. Next morning I found 
them much exhausted and quiet; they no longer bit at my fingers. 
A female with a young one had it still hanging to her breast ; but 
another young, I had put in hap-hazard from a heap, was hitched 
up to the muslin by itself. I sent for a berry-laden branch of Cordia 
collococca, which I had seen strewn on the floor of the cave, but 
first took the precaution of letting them drink, lest an abnormal 
thirst, produced by their exertions or injuries, should make them 
take the juice. They drank eagerly, protruding the tongue—the 
lip, hollowed spoon-shape, and the bristles evidently taking up a 
great quantity. They would anxiously lick it off my fingers. When 
they began to refuse more, and shake their heads at it, I tried the 
berries; but, to my disappointment, they took little notice of them. 
A couple of hours afterwards I tried again, when it occurred to me 
to break the skin, so as to let some of the juice escape. The one 
I presented it to, after a little persuasion, began to lick the juice ; 
he at last seemed to understand his new position, and licked away 
in good earnest. The tongue was rapidly protruded and drawn 
in again, and the juice and softer pulp cleared away with great 
rapidity. I noticed he was very particular in cleaning out the bit 
of loose skin of berry, and licked my fingers of the juice spilt on 
them, carefully cleaning out any that had collected under the nail. 
The sensation was not at all unpleasant, the tongue feeling soft and 
spongy, with a slight scratching from the bristles. I then got 
