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NOTES ON THE HABITS OF SOME CEYLON BATS 
| BY 
W. W. A. PHILLIPS. 
MEGADERMATID. 
Megaderma spasma ceylonensis.—The Ceylon Vampire Bat. 
Singhalese—Tutica or Kokitan Voula, Tamil—Vava. 
This is the common Vampire Bat of the Island. Its distribution is local but 
it is common in parts, especially in the Western Province. 
It lives in colonies—generally of two to a dozen or so, but sometimes much 
larger—in the lofts of the better built native houses or in abandoned dwellings. 
It always seems to select a house with a tiled roof, avoiding where possible 
one with only ‘cadjans’ or cocoanut leaf thatching. The Singhalese consider it 
unlucky to have these bats in their houses, but, owing to their religious teachings, 
will not kill them, and in some cases, will not even drive them out. Yet they 
seem to be only too glad to see other people do it for them. They sometimes 
complain that they are bitten at night by these bats, but this statement requires 
confirmation. 
Owing to its very broad, cambered wings, it has a very silent nightjar like 
flight. It flies low, twisting in and out among the trees and light jungle surround- 
ing the villages, and does not appear to come out into the open. 
When disturbed and driven out of the houses it will take refuge in the sur- 
rounding palm trees; returning again as soon as the noise has subsided. It is 
rather difficult to get rid of, returning persistently to its chosen haunts. 
The sexes live together all the year round, together with the young one which 
is produced in May. There is only one at a birth. The males always seem to 
be more numerous than the females. 
Lyroderma lyra lyra.—The Indian Vampire Bat. 
Singhalese—Tutica or Kokitan Voula. Tamil—Vava. 
Rather uncommon and only occasionally met with. A few have been found 
in the Northern and Western Provinces. One on a tree on the north-west coast, 
a few in houses round Colombo, and a small colony (which used to inhabit an 
abandoned plumbago pit) in Kalutara. Another colony has been found in an 
abandoned house near Matugama in Kalutara. It seems to be chiefly composed 
of males. As with the Megaderma, the males seem to outnumber the 
females. 
Two males kept in captivity in a large box-cage devoured a Dwarf Pepistrelle 
(P. mimus) which was put in with them consuming everything except the 
wing membrane. They also consumed a mouse (dead) and part of a young 
gerbille. 
VESPERTILIONIDA. 
Pipistrellus ceylonicus ceylonicus.—Kelaart’s Bat. 
Singhalese—Podi Voula or Kirri Voula. Tamil—Sinna Vava. 
The present species is confined to the higher hills and does not seem to descend 
at all into the low country. It is very common in Dimbula and Dickoya (4,000 
feet to 5,000 feet) on the Western side of the main range and also in Passara 
(3,500 feet) on the Eastern side. In the former districts it is almost the only 
bat to be seen flying about in the evening. It comes out early, almost as soon 
as the sun has set, and flies round bungalows and trees, dexterously hawking 
for insects. It does not fly particularly fast or high, but continually turns, 
twists and wheels in its flight. As the evening closes in, it appears to ascend 
higher and fly rather straighter. By day it hides in holes in trees, hollow 
