1908.] DR. K\UD ANDERSEX ON BATS. 317 



(c) Tlie races of Artibeus jamaicensis, their geographical dis- 

 tribiUion, and its hearing on a past connection of the West huLies 

 and the Central American mamZa^icZ (see map, p. 319). — (1) The 

 seven races of Artibeus jamaicensis i-ecognised in this paper fall 

 into two natural groups : — A. j.parvipes, yucatanicus, jamaicensis, 

 and cequatorialis on the one side ; A . j. lituratus, 2)(('hnarum, and 

 prceceps on the other side. The former gr'oup, which may be called 

 the " northern," is distributed over Central America, South and 

 Central Mexico, and the Greater Antilles, and has sent a branch 

 southward, through the Cordilleras, as far as Ecuador. The 

 latter group, the " southern," ranges from Paraguay and S. Brazil 

 north waiil through South and Central America to Central Mexico, 

 and has sent a branch to the Windward Islands, as far north as 

 Guadeloupe. 



(2) In the northern group of races the individuals are generally 

 considerably smaller ; the angular notch in the posterior margin 

 of m^ between its cusps 5 and 7, is generally as well marked as in 

 A . planirostris, sometimes reduced, rarely completely filled up ; 

 the coloration of the fur is chiefly of the dark type, the facial 

 stripes as a rule obsolete or less distinct. In the southern group the 

 individuals are generally considerably larger ; the angular notch 

 in the posterior margin of m- is rarely well preserved, generally 

 more or less reduced, often completely filled up ; the coloration 

 chiefly of the lighter type, with the facial stripes, particularly the 

 supraorbital stripes, as a rule well marked or even very strong. 



(3) The close resemblance between A. j. par vi2yes, irom Cuba, 

 and A.j. yiccatanicus, from Yucatan, — closer than between A.j. 

 parvijje?, and its nearest eastern and southern neighbom.- (in San 

 Domingo and 3 a,m.aic&.), A. j. jamaicensis — is evidence of a past 

 closer land connection (or approximation) between Cuba and 

 Yucatan, than between Cuba and San Domingo, or Cuba and 

 Jamaica. 



(4) A . j. jamaicensis ranges from Central Mexico to Panama, 

 from Honduras to Jamaica, San Domingo, Poi'to Rico, as far 

 east as St. Kitts. The perfect resemblance between indivi- 

 duals from all these places is evidence of a past complete, or 

 nearly complete, connection between Jamaica and the coast of 

 Honduras and Nicaragua. I do not see any other reasonable 

 explanation of the fact that precisely the same race occurs in 

 Central America, Jamaica, San Domingo, and Poi'to Rico, whereas 

 Cuba is inhabited by a clearly different race, the relationships 

 of which are with the Yucatan, not with the Jamaican, race. 

 The past connection between Jamaica and the mainland may have 

 been complete ; but this assumption is not necessary to explain 

 the present distribution of A . j. jamaicensis ; the Mosquito Coast 

 and Jamaica are, as well known, connected by extensive suljmarine 

 banks, bhe Mosquito and S. Pedro banks (part of the latter above 

 the surface of the water) ; an elevation of about 100 fathoms 



