Some Curiously-Coloured Bats A7 
In all the species hitherto mentioned there has been no difficulty in assigning a 
reason for them departure from the normal type of coloration. We come now to certain 
other forms im regard to some of which there is at present no clue to account for 
their peculiar colourmg. The first of these is the White-Winged Bat (Scotophilus 
albofuscus) of the Gambia, a member of an Old World genus of the typical bats 
(Vespertilionide), most of the other representatives of which present no peculiarity in 
colour. ‘This species is remarkable from the circumstance that the greater portion of 
the wing-membranes are pure white. It is, however, only those portions of these 
membranes which are concealed when the bat is in repose that are white, all the parts 
lying internally of a lime connecting the elbow with the knee being dark-coloured 
like the fur of the body and head, the general hue of which is deep amber-brown. 
Consequently, when the bat is at rest there is nothing specially noticeable in its 
colouring, and it is only when in flight that the white wings are shown; the white, 
it should be mentioned, bemg common to both thei upper and lower surfaces. The 
contrast between the dark body and white wings is most strikmg when the limbs 
are extended, although when in repose there is nothing specially noticeable in the 
colouring of this bat. Whatever may be the purpose of the white wings, it is evident 
that this purpose comes into play only when the creature is in flight. That there 
is some special object in this very peculiar colouring may be taken for granted, more 
especially as certain other West African bats belongmg to different genera display 
the same peculiarity. The attention of naturalists and collectors who may be 
travellmg in the Gambia and other parts of West Africa should be especially directed 
to the importance of solving this curious problem. One of the species last referred 
to is the Silvery Bat (Chalinolobus argentatus) of the Cameroons, in which the general 
colour of the fur is dark silvery-grey, while the skin of the face and ears is pearly 
white, and that of the wing and leg membranes dusky translucent white traversed by 
dark network and limes. Other species are Nyctinomus punilus and N. whiteleyr. 
Very remarkable is the colouring of a Himalayan representative of a genus 
already mentioned, namely, the Harlequin Bat (Scotophilus ornatus). In this species 
(which is shown flying in the centre of the plate) the general colour of the fur 
of the back is brownish yellow, verging on orange-brown marked with white spots. 
On the crown of the head is a small elongated patch of pure white; a narrow white 
stripe runs down the middle line of the back, and there are two white spots behind each 
shoulder just above the origin of the wing-membrane. On the under-surface a white 
chevron extends from the abdomen to terminate in front of each shoulder; while a second 
white band forms a collar, commencing below each ear and running forwards to the chin. 
The rest of the lower-parts are brown. Such a remarkable coloration must certainly 
have a meaning, and it is noteworthy that specimens of this bat, said to have been 
obtained close to the snows in the Sikhim Himalaya, were named by the late Mr. Bran 
Hodgson Nycticejus (= Scotophilus) nivicolus. On the other hand, Dr. Jerdon states that 
this bat is found in warm low valleys near Darjiling, one of his specimens being reported 
to have been taken in a plantaim leaf. Moreover, Dr. Blanford observes that some of 
Hodgson’s specimens from the interior of the hills, although obtained near high mountains, 
were from the deep valleys at low elevations above the sea. 
Although the name nivicola (as it should properly be) is suggestive that this bat 
owes its white markings to its inhabiting districts where the leaves are flecked with 
snow during some portion of the season when it is abroad, yet this interpretation 
cannot be sustained in face of the statements cited above. Moreover, it would be 
unlikely that bats could live at elevations where the snow lasted during most of the 
summer. Some other explanation has therefore to be sought ; but this can only be 
found out by careful observation of the habits of this bat in its native haunts. 
