7136 Zoological Notes from Aneitetim. 



made of Flagellaria indica, with a hole at the top for entrance, and 

 some papaw apple for bait. The trap is fixed in one of the trees the 

 bats are known to frequent. In Fiji a similar mode of catching them 

 is practised. On the island of Moala a native one day agreed to take 

 me where I should see some bats, and in due time called out " mbeka !" 

 pointing out among the foliage of an lambosa tree something dark in 

 motion, at which I fired. My companion was speedily up among the 

 branches like a monkey, and I then could discern a bat-trap set there, 

 fi-om which, with a malicious grin and averted nose, he drew forth and 

 threw down to me two Pteropi, one quite putrid, the other killed by 

 shot. Pteropus Geddiei has its favourite trees for roosting on during 

 the day, generally some wide-spreading fig or banyan is preferred ; 

 once, however, 1 noticed a species of Acacia had been selected as a 

 place of resort. During the day time, and while suspended from the 

 tree, they are readily roused by any unusual noise, such as the crackling 

 of a stick under foot, and are not very easily approached. Like the 

 other large bats they are very tenacious of life, and cling to the branches 

 as long as they possess the requisite strength, and sometimes remain 

 suspended even after death. The males seem to be very pugnacious ; 

 I have seen them fighting among themselves on the trees, and a wounded 

 one will furiously attack anything brought in contact with it. With 

 their formidable canine teeth they inflict severe bites, and retain their 

 hold of a mouthful with great tenacity. 



The Aneiteuraese generic name for Pteropus is Nekrei ; the larger 

 species is called Nawathelgau, and the smaller one Nalivatran. This 

 last, besides feeding on the fruit of trees, is said to be fond of the berries 

 of a Vaccinium, a low bush growing abundantly on the lower slopes 

 of the hills. 



On a Poisonous Property attributed to Conus textile. — On ray first 

 visit to Aneiteum I was told of a shell-fish which, on being incautiously 

 handled, is said to eject a poison, causing, if it comes in contact with 

 the hand, an immediate and peculiar sensation, then numbness of the 

 hand and arm, followed by intense pain, usually severe illness, and not 

 unfrequently death. The native name is Intrag, and the moUusk in 

 question is the well-known Conus textile. Having frequently bandied 

 this shell-fish while collecting on coral reefs in the Pacific, Torres 

 Strait, and the N.E. Coast of Australia, without having sustained any 

 injury from it, I was naturally somewhat incredulous in the matter ; 

 yet as the general belief — which is never wholly destitute of foundation 

 — was against me, I yielded to it so far as afterwards to handle with 



